PORTSMOUTH, Va. — A burglary at a Portsmouth store in the early hours of the morning is being investigated by police.
Police received a call of a burglary alarm around 4:20 a.m. on Nov. 2 at Dollar Delites at 3525 Towne Point Road.
Officers found a broken window and after looking at surveillance footage found evidence of a person firing a gun at the window, police said.
That's where the suspect entered the store. The man filled his backpack with cigars and left the store through the broken window.
A few hours before, an armed robbery had occurred at the same store. In that incident, a black man entered the store with a gun and demanded money. He left with cash and police are still looking for him.
Detectives do not believe the robbery is related to this burglary.
The owner, Harshil Patel, told 13News Now that his business is family-owned. He said it's a one of a kind store that mixes the sale of dollar items and a convenience store, which makes the crimes even more frustrating to him.
"I started with nothing, I'm trying to make it," said Patel.
This video from February proves this isn't the first time someone robbed the Portsmouth Dollar Delites.
Patel said these crimes are bad for business and his employees. He said it makes everyone feel, "uncomfortable, scared, it's unfortunate what happened it's not right what's going on."
Irish Jaring works two doors down at Shellac Nails.
“It’s very nerve-racking. I can say that," said Jaring."The fact that you hear so much stuff, you get so uncomfortable. It's unsafe. Especially when you're walking out at night to your car."
Even with an empty police car parked nearby, signs and surveillance cameras, Patel wants more to be done, to stop these crimes.
"We need a security guard in the shopping center," said Patel.
The black man is described as wearing all black clothing and carrying a black backpack.
If you recognize the suspect pictured in the surveillance photos you are urged to call the Crime Line and submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
You can also submit an anonymous tip through the P3 Tips app found on the iTunes and the Google Play stores.