Phoenix police are searching for a crew that turned a north Phoenix gun store into a crime scene overnight, ramming a vehicle through the front of the shop and taking off with multiple firearms. The break-in happened around 12:45 a.m. Friday near Cave Creek Road and Union Hills Drive, and investigators are still working the scene and sorting through what was taken.
Police account of the break-in
According to ABC15 Arizona, Phoenix police say several people drove a car straight through the front entry of the gun store, then removed several guns before leaving. Detectives have opened a burglary investigation and are asking anyone who knows anything about the theft to contact them. So far, the department has not released descriptions of the suspects or a complete inventory of the stolen firearms.
Part of a growing pattern
The case mirrors other recent smash-and-grab burglaries targeting gun shops around the Valley. Earlier this month, the ATF investigated a burglary in Apache Junction in which high-powered rifles were stolen. ATF Special Agent Gabriel Pinon told ABC15 Arizona that "Often these firearms are recovered and often used in other crimes." Local police and federal agents routinely work together on these cases to find stolen guns and track where they end up.
How to help
Investigators are asking anyone with information, or anyone whose dash-cam, doorbell camera or security system may have recorded the suspects, to contact the Phoenix Police Department or send an anonymous tip to Silent Witness. Silent Witness accepts anonymous tips online and by phone, and the Phoenix Police Department lists Silent Witness as a partner resource for sharing information with detectives. Tips can help police recover the stolen weapons and identify the people behind the break-in.
