Corbin businesses hit by string of burglaries

A string of burglaries at Corbin businesses in the last week has police baffled, but they don’t think the break-ins are connected.

Almost simultaneously, Corbin Police were investigating break-ins early Tuesday morning at Joy’s Kountry Kooking, a south Main Street diner that serves the local breakfast and lunch crowd, and nearby Forest Bowling Lanes on Cumberland Falls Hwy.

According to Corbin Police Sgt. Jim Miller, someone simply kicked in a side door at Joy’s, dashed into the restaurant and stole an undisclosed amount of money intended for the morning startup of the business.

"It happened sometime overnight, that’s all we know," Miller said.

Miller said there is at least one suspect in the break-in, but noted the lead is tentative.

The restaurant suffered several hundred dollars worth of property damage due to the break-in.

Joy’s owner, Joy Mason, did not want to comment on the burglary.

While Miller was at Joy’s, Corbin Police Sgt. Bill Rose was investigating a somewhat similar break-in at Forest Bowling Lanes. Softball size pieces of cinder block could be seen lying next to a broken window at a side entrance to the bowling alley where the thief or thieves gained entry.

"The main desk and a little interior room off from it were in shambles … it was ransacked," Rose said. "They were looking for money.

Rose said it is unknown how much cash was taken from Forest Lanes. Owners were still counting the loss Tuesday. He added that whoever committed the break-in appeared to have some familiarity with the bowling alley.

"They definitely knew where some stuff was at," Rose said.

Evidence was collected from the scene and is being sent off for analysis.

The string of burglaries started over the weekend when a local barbershop was found to have been targeted by thieves Sunday.
Corbin Barbershop owner Robert Bunch was back at work Monday cutting hair after working Sunday to clean up the mess from a weekend burglary at the shop.

"I don’t know what they were looking for in a barber shop," Bunch said as he worked Monday.

According to Bunch, the burglar(s) kicked open the front door of the shop at 1604 S. Main Street late Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Once inside, the perpetrator(s) rummaged through the cabinets, tried to break into a closet and drank a soft drink before making off with a small amount of change, a portable heater, DVD recorder and steaks from the freezer.

"I guess they thought there might be money kept in the freezer," Bunch said.

Bunch said in the six years he has been in business, this is the first time his shop had been burglarized. He estimated it took three or four hours to repair the door and put the shop back in order.

The burglary is being investigated by Corbin Police Officer Steve Meadors.

Both Miller and Rose said Tuesday they have found no definite link between the burglaries except that the mode of entry was similar in both the Joy’s and Barbershop break-ins.

"We don’t know if it is the same people or not," Miller said. "There’s some circumstances with Joy’s and the bowling alley that make us think they were definitely not related. I think at least those two were not."

Anyone with information about the break-ins is encouraged to call Corbin Police at 528-1122.