Earlier this morning, a burglary at Big Wick Fireworks on the east side of Indianapolis resulted in thieves driving a vehicle through the store's entrance. The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department was dispatched to the scene at the intersection of 21st Street and Emerson Avenue around 5:45 a.m., according to FOX59. Despite a significant police presence that included drone and K9 units, the suspects managed to flee and had not yet been apprehended as the area was searched.
Store owner Aaron Sparks recounted the incident in an interview with 13News, noting that he was alerted to the break-in by his business alarm and subsequently observed the burglary unfold via surveillance footage. "Five to six people jumped out and started grabbing fireworks from inside," Sparks stated. The rapid response of nearby officers, who were refueling at a gas station, facilitated the police's immediate action, although the suspects eluded capture on foot.
Further details on the incident were provided by WISH-TV, which indicated that the assailants were seen on security camera footage wearing dark clothes and ransacking the store, with one burglar even tripping on a large bundle of fireworks. Following the break-in, law enforcement officials instructed residents nearby to remain indoors and called for the suspects, presumed to be in the vicinity, to surrender. Crime Stoppers and IMPD requested anyone with information to come forward.
Despite the chaos and damage inflicted on the store, Sparks affirmed his intention to keep Big Wick Fireworks operational. "Front door is toast, but we got lucky," Sparks told 13News. He also revealed to FOX59 that the suspects broke into an adjacent taco truck and a shuttered bar behind his business. While the morning's disruptions largely subsided by 7:30 a.m., the case remains under active investigation with the culprits still at large.
