Maryland police and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives are searching for two masked suspects who broke into a Maryland gun store last week and stole over 30 firearms.
Surveillance video shows two men smashing gun cases at the United Gun Shop in Rockville, Maryland. They snatch as many pistols as their bags can hold, grab several long guns off the wall, and leave within 90 seconds.
Authorities say they took a total of 24 pistols and seven long guns, according to WJLA News.
“It just shows you how quickly these burglaries can take place,” said Montgomery County Police Sgt. Rebecca Innocenti. “Certainly it is concerning we have these guns that are unaccounted for. That is why we are reaching out to the public asking anyone with information to call that ATF hotline. Up to a $10,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in this case.”
The suspects appear to have had experience with similar robberies. They quickly and efficiently smash the cases with crowbars, disregarding the alarm that rings throughout the video. Police arrived six minutes after the initial dispatch, but by then the men were long gone.
Authorities say they fled in a light-colored, four-door sedan.
A look at the escape car.
As of last week, the ATF had no idea who the thieves were, though they think they know what they plan to do with the guns.
“Anytime that there is a theft to firearms, the ATF has found that those firearms are destined to wind up in the hands of criminals,” ATF agent David Cheplak told Fox 5. “We take these thefts very seriously. It is important for us to work with the firearms industry to make sure that they do properly secure their weapons. This particular federal firearms licensee had a very significant security system in place.”
Despite the security system, officials say the men used crowbars to open the front door of the store. After that, it was just a matter of leaving before the police arrived.
“I’m surprised they got through,” said Betty Armstrong, who works at a neighboring business. “I’m surprised they got through their security. They have got cameras out here. They have got a steel door. They got bars on their windows. We really love having them down here because we feel safe and the police are around here, so I didn’t think this place would get broken into.”
A Mandatory Law Should Be in Place for All Gun Shops that They Have Vaults to Lock Up Weapons When They Are Not Open for Business!..
Video has been removed… I guess they did not like being called out on their fake bullshit.
I think some of these are fake news for the lib lovers. Anything to take jabs at our constitution. We need to be vigilant with our rights. Take every reasonable care we can. This store is just set up for the scene protrude. Any real gun shop has much more security . Steal roll down doors large safe room , much more then this shows. Alarms just aren’t enough. That’s why I think it’s a setup pure fake.
So much for a burglar alarm.
Plus, I’m guessing that the gun showcases were locked and the thieves had to break the glass.
Nothing like keeping the firearms secure.
Stolen guns are not even the top source of criminal guns…but they seem to make the news the most.
So how do gang members, violent criminals, underage youths and other dangerous people get their guns?
A consistent answer emerges from the inmate surveys and from ethnographic studies. Whether guns that end up being used in crime are purchased, swapped, borrowed, shared or stolen, the most likely source is someone known to the offender, an acquaintance or family member.—http://www.newsweek.com/gun-control-where-criminals-get-weapons-412850
What can I say! They took advance of the situation! Like leaving candy on the door step! Poor dumb gun store owner!
I call bullshit! First, my dad is in MD and they have laws like the new draconian CA laws. I see AR-15 rifles and pistols on left side… which are under their assault weapons ban. Second, the right side I see a Kel-Tec KSG, which isn’t on the ban list per say, but MD has minimum overall length requirement of no less then 29inches. I have a KSG.. it is just a fraction over 26inches overall. Third, what gun store leaves all there firearms out over night and not locked up in a safe. In addition this nanny state has laws for “properly” securing firearms.
Correct.
In my state which is much more liberal than Maryland all the guns must be locked away in a safe when store is closed.
I’m thinking this was a mock-up. Something to show all the weak-kneed, to get them peeing in their pants believing there are ‘all those evil black guns’ on the street, and ‘SOMETHING MUST BE DONE! MORE LAWS MUST BE PASSED!’ I call ball sack as well. Those videos only target the uninformed, ignorant-scared.
One white guy and one black guy looks like to me. They have been in that shop before, probably recently.
Watch it again. One on the right, is female. Not male. She also struggles with the two bags of pistol while the male carries out rifles. And what gunstore leaves firearms out of safes when closed?
I believe you are right about the one being female…
Hmmm imagine that, gun control laws or harder backround checks didn’t stop these criminal thieves from obtaining guns
Lessons to be learned are a better door and lexan in place of glass in the display cases. It didn’t look like this was their first rodeo either, so I’d look for burglars who were recently paroled.
The lesson should be….if police response is 6 minutes, have sufficient physical (or distance) layers that delay access to the asset. Better door, inside that another door, harden room where rolling display cases are stored when not open, lexan or shatter resistant glazing, etc., etc.
Layers of protection which must be negotiated to gain access to the asset = police response time.