The forklift pulled a safe out of the front of the business by tearing down the wall. - Frank Bott/Daily Herald

About 40 guns were stolen in the Utah city of Lehi this week in a string of burglaries police say were aided by a forklift.

KUTV.com reported Sergeant Jeff Swenson as saying suspects stole a forklift and used it to smash into Holmes Heating & Cooling where they stole a safe containing 38 to 40 guns.

Swenson said the suspects broke into three other businesses where they stole, among other items, a cutting torch to open the safe.

When that failed, police say they used the forklift to break the safe. In the process, two nearby businesses were damaged by the forklift.

The businesses will pay a USD5,000 reward for information about the burglaries.