Denton PD: Crooks Used Pickup To Smash Into Gun Stores
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DENTON (CBSDFW.COM) - CBS 11 News has obtained the security video that shows criminals using a truck to smash through the walls of two Denton gun shops.
One storeowner believes there were many as four would-be thieves who didn't just try to break-in, but chose to make their entrance through the walls of the businesses.
The first burglary/attempted burglary happened just after midnight at White Wing Weaponry on East University. Security video from the store shows a red pickup truck driving right into the wall of the shop -- not once, but twice. The truck actually got stuck when it slammed into the building a second time.
The impact caused security alarms to sound. Storeowner Robert Stock was inside the building at the time. He said he looked at him security monitors and saw what was happening outside. "It was a little close to the building. So I got dressed right away and ran around, and alarm people were calling me. Next thing I knew I could see a truck was about three feet into my building."
The would-be criminals never got inside the gun store. Denton Police Department spokesman Officer Shane Kizer explained, "It doesn't appear that they were successful in taking anything from the business, but they did use a stolen vehicle out of Dallas."
While police were investigating the incident at White Wing Weaponry they got a call about a break-in at another gun store.
When police arrived at the Call To Arms Gun Store on Dallas Drive they saw a gaping hole, the size of a garage door, left after thieves used another truck to crash into the business.
While rows and rows of empty gun racks could be seen, storeowner Bill Anderson said the thieves only got away with a small television and a laptop, because he locks up every weapon in the store -- every night. "In the morning when I come in it [gun inventory] all comes out of the gun vaults and goes in the display cases," he said. "At the end of the day [we] gather it all up, put it back in the gun vaults and it's secure at night."
It isn't known if the vehicle used to crash into Call to Arms was stolen.
Investigators haven't officially confirmed if the same criminals committed the two crimes, but it's believed the break-ins are probably related.
The investigation is ongoing and so far no arrests have been made.
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