Burglars in New Castle used stolen flatbed truck to break into gun store, steal several firearms, police say
NEW CASTLE, Del. (CBS) -- New Castle County police are searching for multiple burglars who allegedly used a stolen flatbed truck to break into a gun store and steal an unknown amount of firearms.
The burglary happened at Miller's Gun Center on West Jackson Avenue in New Castle just before 2 a.m. Monday, police said in a news release.
"Was absolutely brazen to even attempt this," Bob Miller, owner of Miller's Gun Center, said.
Police were responding to an alarm at Miller's Gun Center when they said they received a tip phone call from someone saying they saw a flatbed truck back into the front of the gun store.
"We had two metal bars on the door, a metal door and a brick front. So he had to hit that building with a lot of force," Miller said.
Once at the store, officers found several firearms had been stolen and the truck was no longer in the area.
While investigators wouldn't say how many guns were taken, Miller determined what type of guns were stolen.
"It was only handguns, which our primary inventory is long guns," he said.
Now the concern is that these stolen guns could be making their way into the wrong hands.
"It's a violation to all of us and it's obviously a public safety issue," Miller said.
On Tuesday, police told CBS News Philadelphia a flatbed truck was found in a nearby parking lot in the 500 block of North Dupont Highway and later towed by investigators.
"This vehicle that's in this parking lot back here was involved in the incident. It rammed the door to Miller's Gun Shop the previous night — that's when all the weapons were stolen and this vehicle was located in this parking lot," said Senior Corporal Richard Chambers with the New Castle County Division of Police.
Miller told CBS News Philadelphia he was very pleased with law enforcement's quick response to his family's store of 65 years on Monday night.
Anyone with information related to this burglary is asked to contact Detective Diksa at Dakota.Diksa@newcastlede.gov or (302)395-8030. You can also submit an anonymous tip online or with the ATF.