Fireworks stolen from Frankfort store

FRANKFORT, IN.(WISH) - Firework dealers tell 24 Hour News 8 they are taking a big hit as firework bans are being put in place.

24 Hour News 8 Anchor Daniel Miller found one woman has taken a hit twice after someone stole several thousands of dollars in fireworks from her store.

Indiana Horse Rescue has been selling fireworks for a fundraiser for 10 years.

Sometime overnight someone broke inside the store they are using and walked out with more than just a couple of boxes of fireworks.

Off Jackson Street in Frankfort, you can't miss the retailers who are busy selling fireworks for the 4th of July.

But inside one fireworks store, the owner is busy taking inventory.

"They cleared us out of almost all of that," said Kathryn Caldwell.

Someone stole 2-thousand dollars in fireworks off the shelves.

"They took the high dollar stuff, they took the expensive stuff; they didn't take the quarter, 50 cent, dollar items," Caldwell said.

Caldwell runs the fireworks store in Frankfort.

She's also one of the founders of Indiana Horse Rescue.

"The money that we raise goes for the winter hay and to feed the horses we need the money that we make with the fireworks," Caldwell said.

Caldwell took 24 Hour News 8 outside and showed us how the culprits got in.

There's even a footprint left on the side door.

"They came through here after they kicked the door in and knocked this table over and came in through this curtain," she said.

Once inside, the suspects loaded up on "WAVE THE FLAG" Fireworks.

Each valued at close to 1-hundred dollars.

"We weren't selling fireworks to go on vacation, we're trying to raise funds to take care of horses because horses need someplace to go," said volunteer Jamie Showers.

The value may not sound like much, but for the rescue's 13 horses,it is.

"It's a thousand bails of hay, so that's going to support 10 horses," Caldwell said.

Josh Vincent heard about the theft and came in to help out.

"I spent 35 and now I'm spending another 20," said Vincent.

Caldwell  said in this tough economy after losing thousands in sales every little bit she gets now helps.

"It's not a lot to a normal business, but it is a lot to the horses, that's a lot of money," she said.

Frankfort police are investigating the break-in.

Because the case is active, they could not comment on it.