SOUTHINGTON, Conn. — Police in Southington are hot on the trail of four people suspected of robbing a gun shop.
Southington police said they are confident that they’ll be able to identify and apprehend the suspects, who they believe are all under the age of 18, but for now it means nine more guns are on the streets and in the hands of suspected criminals.
“It’s pretty brazen,” remarked Southington Police Lt. Keith Egan.
It was just before 2:00 a.m. Sunday when the front window of the Lock N’ Load gun shop along the Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike was smashed.
“Nowadays nothing really surprises us I suppose,” said Egan.
The break-in sounded the shop’s alarm system as the store’s owners watched remotely through their cameras.
“They were able to observe from a remote surveillance in the business that they received an alarm activation that the business had been burglarized,” explained Egan.
Police got to the scene within minutes, but not before the thieves stole 10 Glock and Sig Sauer brand pistols. The suspects took off in what’s believed to have been a stolen getaway vehicle.
“We pursued it at a distance to obviously get some of the information and attempt to stop it, however, for the safety of the public we didn’t get into a pursuit with the vehicle,” explained Egan.
Police eventually found the vehicle abandoned near a shopping plaza in Cheshire with one stolen gun still inside, but the suspects were nowhere to be found.
“I wasn’t really surprised. The way things have been happening lately people are just smashing and grabbing,” remarked Chip Richters, who owns an alarm and security business just across the street from the gun shop. He said these systems are a wise and relatively affordable investment.
The owner of the gun shop declined to speak. Police are now working with federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Matt Caron is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at mcaron@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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