Three Richmond Area Gun Shop Break-ins Possibly Related

NBC 12 reports that police answered calls to three Richmond Area gun shops between 10:15 pm Monday and 7:00 am Tuesday.

In Chesterfield, police responded to a breaking and entering call at Southern Police Equipment, the parent company of Southern Gun World, at 7609 Midlothian Turnpike at 10:15 p.m. Monday. When officers arrived, three suspects fled. Nothing was taken, police said, but a door had been damaged.

All three male suspects are about 6' tall, police said. One suspect was wearing a black sweatshirt, black pants, a black Chicago Bulls ball cap, a red bandana around his neck and dark-colored gloves. He was carrying a black bag.

The second suspect was wearing a black sweatshirt and black pants and was carrying a light-colored backpack with blue straps. The third suspect was wearing a black sweatshirt, gray or white sweatpants and black and white shoes.

In Henrico, police responded to a call around 11:20 p.m. at Cross Tactical Supply at 375 E. Williamsburg Road. The front door of the business had been kicked in. Police say inventory is still being assessed to see if anything was taken.

"They can't get anything out of this store, the safes are secure and they put everything in the safe," said Rick Faulcner, a frequent customer.

The Hanover Sheriff’s Office says Hopkins Gun and Tackle at 8151 Mechanicsville Turnpike was broken into overnight. Owners arrived around 7 a.m. Tuesday to find their store ransacked. They were taking inventory to access if anything was taken.

"It's a very strange coincidence," said Vance Hopkins, CEO of Hopkins Guns and Tackle. "It's an unusual thing knowing how far they had to go to get the guns and to get back out, but I think they left enough clues to go ahead and catch them."

ATF and NSSF are offering a $5000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction.  Call the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confidential tip line at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477) or email ATFTips@atf.gov.