A liquor store in the Holly Hills Plaza on Highway 45 North was burglarized and set on fire late Monday.
The Old Tyme Wine and Liquor store and two neighboring vacant offices at 3189 Highway 45 N. were broken into shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, said police Public Information Officer Terrie Songer.
The burglar or burglars pried open the doors of the vacant offices, then broke into the liquor store by knocking a hole in a shared wall. They took an undisclosed amount of cash and an undetermined amount of merchandise, Songer said.
The fire, which was reported at about 11 p.m., heavily damaged Old Tyme, and caused smoke damage to other offices. Firefighters were able to douse the blaze at about 12:40 a.m.
Police are investigating whether the burglar or burglars might also be responsible for an auto burglary nearby in the 100 block of Newbell Road.
The complainant reported that a handgun had been stolen from his unlocked car about 15 minutes after midnight.
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