A home, a restaurant and a hunting cabin were hit by thieves over the weekend in the Kelly area.

Bladen County Sheriff Steve Bunn said a rifle was stolen from a hunting cabin on Old Jones Road, and the Koons home on Natmore Road was ransacked.

An attempted break-in at the Hobbs Corner Restaurant was foiled when the owner surprised the would-be thieves.

Albert Anders told deputies someone took a .30-30 hunting rifle from his hunting cabin at 944 Old Jones Road between Oct. 8 and Saturday morning. Nothing else was reported missing.

In another case, someone attempted to break into the Hobbs' Corner Restaurant on N.C. 11 after closing time. The owner was in the eatery at the time, and scared off the suspects.

The home break-in occurred between 8 and 11 p.m. at 4562 Natmore Road. Kathi Koons told deputies she returned home to discover someone had ransacked her house and stolen jewelry and electronics. The suspects also apparently injured a dog in that break-in (see related story).

Bunn said it is not known if the break-ins were related.

The investigation is continuing.

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