Crooks steal 40 firearms from gun shop as California crime wave continues to surge
Crooks made off with nearly 40 firearms during a smash-and-grab burglary at a California gun shop early Thursday morning, a report said.
The suspects shattered the front door glass at Whitten Sales just after midnight and stole the guns that were kept in a safe at the store, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing Garden Grove Police Lt. Mario Martinez.
The owner of the business tipped off police to the burglar after seeing a suspect on surveillance footage, the report said.
By the time police arrived, the thieves were gone. Police said they fled in two BMWs.
The burglar comes amid a rash of smash-and-grab robberies in Southern California that have targeted high-end retailers.
Investigators do not believe the gun thefts are related to the other cases — which normally occur during the day.
“Needless to say, it’s still a burglary, and it’s still a big concern of ours, obviously, with the amount of firearms that were taken,” Martinez said.
