OBETZ, Ohio — Several guns were stolen from a gun shop in Obetz and law enforcement said multiple teenage suspects used stolen cars to break their way into the store.
According to an Obetz police report, it was around 4:30 in the morning last Monday when police were called after cars rammed a back door at Vance Outdoors. The suspects ran into the gun shop and stole about a half dozen guns.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said the teens used three stolen Kias to break in.
The teens took off into the nearby quarry, according to the Obetz police report. Police could not find the teens.
“Police responded, and during the pursuit, they were throwing empty boxes out the door,” explained James Rhoden, the ATF Group Supervisor in Columbus.
10TV reported on the teens last week.
Police believe two of the teens involved in breaking into the store were arrested by Hilliard police the next day in a stolen car with a stolen gun.
The 15- and 17-year-olds admitted they fired the gun at random on Interstate 270 as they drove from Dublin to Hilliard before Hilliard police apprehended them.
“Right now the juveniles involved in this crime are suspected of being part of other crimes across multiple counties and jurisdictions,” Rhoden said.
Rhoden said all of the guns have been recovered but adds how dangerous it is when criminals get a hold of weapons.
“Anytime you have individuals from outside areas coming in, stealing cars, then in hours using those cars to break into gun stores and steal firearms and then spreading those firearms throughout the neighborhood and putting them in the hands of criminals, is never a good thing for law enforcement,” Rhoden said.
Police are still trying to identify all of the teens who were involved. Police believe as many as eight teens were involved in the Vance Outdoors incident.
10TV reached out to Vance Outdoors, but they declined to comment.