Burglars seen ramming cars into Philadelphia vape shops, stealing merchandise

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Philadelphia police are investigating at least three burglaries in which thieves rammed cars into vape shops to steal merchandise last week.

Culebra Snack & Vape on N. Front Street in Hunting Park was hit Tuesday and Friday mornings, and Smoker's Palace on Keystone Street in Wissinoming was hit Saturday.

Employees boarded up the vestibule of the Smoker's Palace tobacco shop after a car was seen on video crashing through the front door.

"You got to go harder," one burglar is heard saying on surveillance video.

Their first attempt to ram the doors didn't work, and then the glass shattered on the second attempt.

The store's security alarm sounded at around 6:30 Saturday morning on Keystone Street in Philadelphia's Wissinoming neighborhood.

Action News also obtained video inside showing the group checking the registers first.

Employees tell us the registers didn't have any cash.

The group then started stealing boxes of merchandise off the back shelves.

They were in and out of there in roughly 30 seconds.

"It's wild, I'm not surprised though. Cigarettes, anything quick, you know," said customer Steve Pruzinsky.

Employees tell Action News the Backwoods cigars and True Wraps cigar wrappers the group went after are very popular among customers.

"You're taking away not much, and then you're causing a lot of damage to this fella's shop," said customer Tone Griffin. "I'm sure he has insurance, but at the same time this is something he put his hard work, sweat and tears into."

Culebra Snack & Vape on N. Front Street in Hunting Park was hit twice last week.

We're told a group drove a car into the front doors last Tuesday morning and then came back with multiple vehicles Friday morning.

The business has since installed these bollards out front to help prevent this from happening again.

Investigators are working to determine exactly how many people are involved and whether the recent cases are connected.