A large arsenal of firearms stolen from a New Mexico gun shop was taken by a pair of bold young burglars, one of whom is only 12, police say.
The break-in happened at about 4 a.m. Sunday, June 23, at Miller Guns and Ammo in Las Cruces, the police department said in a June 24 news release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms joined Las Cruces police in the investigation.
According to investigators, two boys, ages 12 and 15, pulled up outside the gun shop in a Kia Forte, which police later discovered had been stolen from a nearby home.
After forcing their way inside the store, they escaped with 30 rifles and pistols, plus ammunition and accessories, police said. All told, more than $30,000 in weaponry was taken, police said.
Hours later, investigators found the accused thieves while responding to a “report of a subject with a gun,” according to police.
“Upon arrival, officers located two juveniles — a 12-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy — and recovered two of the firearms that were reported stolen from the gun shop,” the release said.
The 15-year-old’s home was searched and 14 more stolen guns were found, police said .
“Investigators have since located additional handguns and rifles that were reported stolen,” police said.
“Both juveniles have been charged with aggravated burglary, breaking and entering, and larceny of more than $20,000,” police said, adding that the older boy is facing an additional charge of possession of a stolen vehicle.
Officials are not publicly identifying either of the boys due to their ages.
“Police and ATF are continuing to investigate this incident. Anyone with information on this case, or information on the whereabouts of any of the outstanding firearms and accessories, is asked to immediately call police at (575) 526-0795.”
___
© 2024 The Charlotte Observer
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: Mitchell Willetts – The Charlotte Observer
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://americanmilitarynews.com and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.