An astounding heist has left a local Orlando business, Big Bang Fireworks, in the lurch as thieves made off with more than $85,000 worth of high-priced fireworks. A theft of this magnitude is not just a blow to the business, but also comes at a critical juncture, just days before Independence Day celebrations, according to a report from ClickOrlando. Justin Driggers, the owner of Big Bang Fireworks, expressed his dismay, “This is by far the biggest,” referring to the string of thefts that have plagued the area.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the incident that took place at the business’s East Colonial Drive location. Surveillance footage provided by Driggers shows an individual tampering with the camera at approximately 3:30 a.m. yesterday, according to information detailed by ClickOrlando. Driggers, who has suffered several burglaries over recent years, pointed out the issue of re-sale of stolen fireworks on social media, stating, it’s “a big underground business where these organized groups will hit fireworks locations, build their inventory, and sell masses amount of fireworks.”
In a separate but related incident reported by WESH, more than $120,000 in fireworks were stolen from another stand operated by Big Bang Fireworks. “I believe it’s the biggest one in state history,” Driggers stated. The heist took place in Azalea Park around 3 a.m., with the thieves strategically targeting the more expensive products. “Nothing but the big stuff,” Pete Farley, the operations manager, mentioned, highlighting the targeted nature of the crime, which saw the loss of the grand finale pieces valued between $90 to $600 each…