Thousands in cash taken and store damaged during gas station break-in

A convenience store employee arrived at work Friday morning to discover a safe had been taken – valued at $4,000 and containing about $15,000 – the store office was ransacked, and the gas pump system damaged, authorities said.

The store employee called police and the owner to the gas station, according to the police report.

Myrtle Beach police responded about 7 a.m. to the Phoenix Mart gas station at 1350 U.S. 501 and said the glass door to the business had been smashed.

Once inside the business, authorities said they saw damage to the property, including a large hole cut in the roof and ceiling.

Police also said inside the store office, filing cabinet drawers were ajar, papers were all over the floor and the camera system was missing.

The store owner told police he was unsure exactly how much was in the safe when it was taken, but believed it contained about $15,000 in cash. The owner also said a 9 mm pistol, valued at $1,200, was also inside the safe, police said.

The owner said the system that controls the gas pumps had been unplugged and damaged, and said no one would be able to pay at the pumps because of the damage, authorities said.

A crime scene officer was called out to investigate, and police entered the gun into their information systems as stolen, according to the report.

Arrests had not been made as of Saturday morning.

This story was originally published July 18, 2015 at 9:22 AM with the headline "Thousands in cash taken and store damaged during gas station break-in."