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http://www.gazette.net/200403/silverspring/news/196752-1.html
Gun stores emerging as attractive burglary targets
by Meredith Hooker
Staff Writer
Jan. 14, 2004
Recent break-ins lead to arrests
by local police, federal agencies
A county firearms task force was instrumental in resolving the recent burglary of a Silver Spring gun store and officials say they are continuing to crack down on illegal firearm possession.
A stolen tow truck smashed Atlantic Guns' door Jan. 6 and burglars grabbed five rifles before fleeing. The store's alarm alerted police at about 4 a.m. When they arrived, the truck was in front of the store on Bonifant Street, with its engine running and tow cable lying on the ground, according to Montgomery County Police.
Thirty-six hours later, four Greenbelt men were arrested in connection with the burglary and the firearms were recovered and taken into custody by the Baltimore Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF and the Montgomery County Firearms Task Force worked together to find the men and recover the firearms.
"I'm tickled that they were caught, thrilled they were caught," said Steve Schneider, owner of Atlantic Guns, which also has a store in Rockville.
In 2003, the county experienced several break-ins at stores that sell firearms. About 30 firearms were taken in an early morning Nov. 18 burglary of The Gun Rack Ltd. on Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville, according to police reports. On Feb. 22, several handguns were taken from Galyan's at the Rio Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg. Burglars re-entered the store on Feb. 23 and took additional firearms, yielding a loss of about 24 pieces, according to police reports. In March, the alarm was triggered at the Gun Rack, but nothing was taken.
Two men were arrested in connection to the Galyan's burglary and alarm trigger at the Gun Rack in March, according to police reports. The task force was involved in the capture of those men. The suspects were visible on Galyan's surveillance camera and the owner of the Gun Rack was able to provide them with a license plate number of a car that was in the vicinity of his store when his alarm was triggered, according to police reports.
Burglary of gun stores has become a regional issue, said Lt. Alan Goldberg at a recent Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board meeting, and said similar situations have also occurred in Prince George's County. He cited one incident in which a vehicle had been driven through the establishment in order to get inside.
"In the past year, we have had a lot more attempted burglaries and burglaries of gun stores," said Lt. Mike Mancuso, who oversees the task force for Montgomery County Police, adding that it is the task force's duty to follow up on those burglaries and attempted burglaries. "It's an alarming trend....The sole purpose of these burglaries is to steal guns to sell to other criminals."
However, gun shops do not appear to be experiencing any more burglaries than any other type of commercial businesses, said Officer Joyce Utter, a spokeswoman for Montgomery County Police.
Gun shops are no more vulnerable to burglary than any other retail store or business, Schneider said, adding that banks get broken into and ATMs get stolen.
"You're always in a situation where that could happen," he said. "You take precautions where you can."
The weapons stolen from Atlantic Guns were semi-automatic rifles often used for hunting, competition and target shooting, Schneider said. They cost between $500 and $3,000.
On the street, the weapons could sell for more, Mancuso said, adding that usually the main motivation to steal the weapons is to sell them, usually to criminals. "They can sell guns on the street and bring in some big money."
Most of the weapons stolen in previous burglaries were sold on the streets of Washington, D.C., he added.
The task force was formed in January 2003, to address the illegal possession and sale of firearms in Montgomery County, and draws from the resources of county and state police, Maryland-National Capital Park Police, the ATF and the United States Secret Service.
Schneider credits the task force in capturing the individuals allegedly involved in the burglary of his store.
"Law enforcement is taking this extremely seriously now," he said. "You don't mess with the theft of a firearm. They will find you, they will prosecute you. Hopefully that message is getting out there."
Penalties for theft of a firearm are no greater than theft of other items, Utter said, but when prosecuted at a federal level instead of a state level, offenders can face higher jail terms and fines.
There are enhanced penalties at the federal level, including no parole, Mancuso said.
The task force follows up on gun arrests and ensures both the person and the gun get fully investigated, Mancuso said. Guns can be traced by their serial numbers, and investigators can also do forensics searches on them if the serial number has been ground off. Last year, the task force seized 350 firearms and made 70 arrests.
Gun stores emerging as attractive burglary targets
by Meredith Hooker
Staff Writer
Jan. 14, 2004
Recent break-ins lead to arrests
by local police, federal agencies
A county firearms task force was instrumental in resolving the recent burglary of a Silver Spring gun store and officials say they are continuing to crack down on illegal firearm possession.
A stolen tow truck smashed Atlantic Guns' door Jan. 6 and burglars grabbed five rifles before fleeing. The store's alarm alerted police at about 4 a.m. When they arrived, the truck was in front of the store on Bonifant Street, with its engine running and tow cable lying on the ground, according to Montgomery County Police.
Thirty-six hours later, four Greenbelt men were arrested in connection with the burglary and the firearms were recovered and taken into custody by the Baltimore Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The ATF and the Montgomery County Firearms Task Force worked together to find the men and recover the firearms.
"I'm tickled that they were caught, thrilled they were caught," said Steve Schneider, owner of Atlantic Guns, which also has a store in Rockville.
In 2003, the county experienced several break-ins at stores that sell firearms. About 30 firearms were taken in an early morning Nov. 18 burglary of The Gun Rack Ltd. on Old Columbia Pike in Burtonsville, according to police reports. On Feb. 22, several handguns were taken from Galyan's at the Rio Washingtonian Center in Gaithersburg. Burglars re-entered the store on Feb. 23 and took additional firearms, yielding a loss of about 24 pieces, according to police reports. In March, the alarm was triggered at the Gun Rack, but nothing was taken.
Two men were arrested in connection to the Galyan's burglary and alarm trigger at the Gun Rack in March, according to police reports. The task force was involved in the capture of those men. The suspects were visible on Galyan's surveillance camera and the owner of the Gun Rack was able to provide them with a license plate number of a car that was in the vicinity of his store when his alarm was triggered, according to police reports.
Burglary of gun stores has become a regional issue, said Lt. Alan Goldberg at a recent Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board meeting, and said similar situations have also occurred in Prince George's County. He cited one incident in which a vehicle had been driven through the establishment in order to get inside.
"In the past year, we have had a lot more attempted burglaries and burglaries of gun stores," said Lt. Mike Mancuso, who oversees the task force for Montgomery County Police, adding that it is the task force's duty to follow up on those burglaries and attempted burglaries. "It's an alarming trend....The sole purpose of these burglaries is to steal guns to sell to other criminals."
However, gun shops do not appear to be experiencing any more burglaries than any other type of commercial businesses, said Officer Joyce Utter, a spokeswoman for Montgomery County Police.
Gun shops are no more vulnerable to burglary than any other retail store or business, Schneider said, adding that banks get broken into and ATMs get stolen.
"You're always in a situation where that could happen," he said. "You take precautions where you can."
The weapons stolen from Atlantic Guns were semi-automatic rifles often used for hunting, competition and target shooting, Schneider said. They cost between $500 and $3,000.
On the street, the weapons could sell for more, Mancuso said, adding that usually the main motivation to steal the weapons is to sell them, usually to criminals. "They can sell guns on the street and bring in some big money."
Most of the weapons stolen in previous burglaries were sold on the streets of Washington, D.C., he added.
The task force was formed in January 2003, to address the illegal possession and sale of firearms in Montgomery County, and draws from the resources of county and state police, Maryland-National Capital Park Police, the ATF and the United States Secret Service.
Schneider credits the task force in capturing the individuals allegedly involved in the burglary of his store.
"Law enforcement is taking this extremely seriously now," he said. "You don't mess with the theft of a firearm. They will find you, they will prosecute you. Hopefully that message is getting out there."
Penalties for theft of a firearm are no greater than theft of other items, Utter said, but when prosecuted at a federal level instead of a state level, offenders can face higher jail terms and fines.
There are enhanced penalties at the federal level, including no parole, Mancuso said.
The task force follows up on gun arrests and ensures both the person and the gun get fully investigated, Mancuso said. Guns can be traced by their serial numbers, and investigators can also do forensics searches on them if the serial number has been ground off. Last year, the task force seized 350 firearms and made 70 arrests.
