Burglary tied to gun shop robbery try

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Police said Monday that a second burglary on the same day as that of Loeffler’s Guns last week is most likely by the same individuals.

Grants Police Detective Sgt. John Castaneda said more than one person broke into an old radiator store at 11310 W. Santa Fe Ave. and stole a 1947 green Chevrolet pickup on Feb. 18.

“They had to know the truck was in there,” he said.

Castaneda also said the burglars used the same method of breaking into the radiator shop, about 4 p.m., in the afternoon Feb. 18, as the gun store earlier that day.

“They used a claw hammer, the same one we found at the scene of the gun store’s attempted break in,” he said.

Castaneda said the burglars left the hammer at the gun store but no fingerprints were detected.

“We think they were after vehicles and guns,” he said.

“The vehicle was probably fast money. They took it to a chop store and got money to buy guns and drugs.”

The burglars broke though a wall in the radiator shop with the hammer and opened it from the inside and drove the truck out, Castaneda said.

At Loeffler’s, 825 W. Santa Fe Ave., Castaneda said he thinks the same burglars attempted to break through a wall with the hammer — but the security alarm went off bringing police officers quickly — because if the burglars were able to gain entry they may have been able to remove some of the weapons inside the store.

It was the third time someone has either attempted to break into the gun store or steel storage container behind the store since Loeffler opened his gun shop in November 2006.

Loeffler Guns was robbed March 1, 2008, and burglars stole 12-13 guns. Since that incident, a steel storage container behind the store was broken into in the summer of 2007 but nothing was taken.

“There is nothing worth stealing in that shed, just pieces of scrap wood for making shelves and old signs,” he said.

“There is a $250 reward for information leading to a conviction,” Loeffler said.

Anyone with knowledge of either incident is asked to contact Grants police at (505) 285-2984 or Crime Stoppers. All calls are confidential.