Two suspects stole more than two dozen firearms from a Rockville gun shop Thursday morning, according to Montgomery County police.
Before 4 a.m., two suspects wearing dark clothing and gloves used a crowbar to pry open the front door of the United Gun Shop at 5465 Randolph Road, according to a police press release issued Thursday afternoon. They then entered the store and smashed several glass displays. The pair grabbed guns from the display cases and from the walls and left after about 90 seconds, police said.
Police believe the suspects drove away in a light-colored four-door sedan, which was seen on a surveillance video of the area.
Police officers arrived at United Gun Shop, a federal firearms licensee, at 3:50 a.m. to respond to a commercial alarm and found the suspects had already fled.
County police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a federal agency with jurisdiction involving firearms, are investigating the incident. They believe the suspects stole about 24 handguns and seven long guns, and investigators are working with the store owner to determine the precise number and type of firearms that were stolen.
Police released a surveillance video of the burglary suspects, who were concealing their faces.
County police, ATF and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for the firearms industry, announced a combined reward for up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the gun theft, according to police.
Anyone with information can call ATF investigators at 1-888-ATF-TIPS, email ATFtips@atf.gov or text anonymously through www.reportit.com.
The car police believe the suspects fled in. Credit: MCPD
