The stolen ring looks like this with the name "Heffner" engraved on it.

LINCOLNTON, N.C. -- Lincoln County detectives say a NASCAR 2008 Championship ring worth $5,000 was stolen during a break-in in Lincolnton in December.

Investigators say the ring belonged to Daniel Heffner, an employee of Hendrick Motorsports.

The ring was stolen when someone broke into Heffner's home on Dec. 19. Deputies say the thief pried open the back door of the home to get inside.

The thief also stole a laptop computer and a 32-inch flat screen TV.

The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office is also investigating a separate burglary that happened Christmas week. Someone forced open the front door of a home on Clark Creek Road and stole a large amount of jewelry, a computer and several firearms, including shotguns, rifles and three antique guns.

Anyone with information about these break-ins should call the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office at 704-736-8856 or Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909.