'American Idol' Phillip Phillips Reacts to Pawn Shop Burglary; Police Zero in on Suspect

Frank Micelotta/FOX/PictureGroup

Police authorities in Albany, Georgia, have identified a suspect in the burglary of American Idol champion Phillip Phillips' family business, Albany Sporting Goods and Pawn.
 
The perpetrator is described in the police report as being a 40- to 50-year-old non-Hispanic male, about 6 feet tall, and weighing about 225 lbs, according to Fox News. He has a black crew haircut, brown eyes, a medium brown complexion and medium build; he was last seen in a dark pullover shirt with khaki shorts.

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Phillips, who was recuperating from a grueling six-hour kidney stone surgery at the time, was saddened by the news of the theft, according to his father, Donnie Phillips.

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"He shook his head and said, 'Dang, Daddy I hate to hear that. ...Well, that's how some people in the world are,'" he said.

As was previously reported, thieves used a stolen Albany Water Gas & Light backhoe to bust inside the pawn shop at the Corner of Oglethorpe Blvd. and Thornton Drive early Tuesday morning, taking $4,000 worth of merchandise, including the cash register.

The Phillips family patriarch is still taking inventory of the stolen items, which includes several guns, fishing reels, television sets, necklaces, rings and antique coins. The family's famed stuffed turkey and autographed guitars, prominently featured throughout the Idol season, were untouched.

"They got a pile of jewelry, coins, guns, TVs, rod and reels. Just a lot of stuff," he told WALB in Albany.

He added that he is licensed to carry a gun and often sleeps inside the store, and if he were there someone might have gotten hurt.

"There ain't no telling what would have happened if I had been up here," said the elder Phillips. "[But] If they catch them, I hope I can get a check every month. I don't care if it's a dollar a month so it will remind that person or those persons to see what they've done and see what road they're going down."

The Phillips family was in California caring for the 21-year-old singer/songwriter at the time of the break-in.  Phillips is expected to make a full recovery, and will join the American Idol tour on July 6.

Anyone with information about the break in is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 436-TIPS.