Police find over 20 guns in stolen car, 3 arrested in Pa. gun store burglary
TRENTON, N.J. (CBS) -- Two 15-year-olds and a 16-year-old from Philadelphia were arrested overnight after police say they stole a car, burglarized a Bucks County gun store and fled across the river in a high-speed chase. They are still looking for two people.
"They're going to be charged with burglary, theft, criminal conspiracy, firearms violations, etc.," Middletown Township Police Detective Lt. Steve Forman said.
He says officers also found more than 20 guns in the stolen Kia Sportage suspect's car.
Investigators believe around 3 a.m. five suspects entered the store through a second-floor window and someone opened it from the inside.
"By the time they got in, we had already notified the police," store owner Eugene Golubtsov said.
After the alleged burglary, police tailed the suspects and followed them into Trenton, where the car crashed on Route 29. There was then a short foot pursuit before the suspects were arrested on Hanover Street.
Surveillance video showed Trenton officers pulling guns out of the back of the vehicle.
It wasn't immediately clear where the car was stolen from. Two other people were in the car but fled the scene.
Officials say other gun stores in the region have been targeted.
"They made three attempts before they actually broke in," Golubtsov said. "They got here early, smashed a couple of door knobs, didn't get in. Looks like they spend 15 minutes on the phone talking to somebody."
"Mostly they took guns that are popular on the streets, they took plastic guns, Glocks...and such...they didn't take any of my collectible stuff, they didn't know, didn't care for it much," he added.
"As it proceeded east, Falls Township being ahead of the pursuit was able to get stop sticks out, the tire-deflation devices," Forman.
Detective Lt. Forman says officers pulled up as the suspects were driving off.
"That many guns on the street would show up on the streets of Philadelphia, streets of Trenton," Forman said. "They would obviously be used in crimes because people that are buying those guns can't go into a gun shop and legally purchase a gun."
Several other agencies, including the Pennsylvania State Police, reached out to Middletown.
Also, the ATF is taking inventory at LugerMan and the teens are also facing face charges in Trenton.
