Las Cruces police and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are investigating Sunday morning’s theft of 30 firearms from a local gun shop.
Source: City of Las Cruces
[UPDATED 1:11 PM Tuesday, June 25, 2024]
Las Cruces police and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms arrested a third juvenile believed to be involved in Sunday’s theft of 30 firearms from a local gun shop.
The third juvenile, a 15-year-old boy, was arrested Monday afternoon. He joins two other boys, ages 15 and 12, who are charged for breaking into a local gun shop and stealing 30 firearms, ammunition and accessories worth more than $30,000.
All three juveniles are charged with aggravated burglary, breaking and entering and larceny of more than $20,000. One of the 15-year-olds is also charged with possession of a stolen vehicle. Because of their ages, police will not identify the three suspects.
Investigators learned that shortly before 4 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2024, the three juveniles broke into and burglarized Miller Guns and Ammo, 518 N. Telshor Blvd. Surveillance video showed the three juveniles arriving in a Kia Forte that police later determined to be stolen from an address on Eagle Ridge Drive.
Sometime after the burglary, police were dispatched to the report of a subject with a gun on the 2300 block of Columbia Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located two of the boys – a 12-year-old and a 15-year-old – and recovered two of the firearms that were reported stolen from the gun shop.
Police obtained consent to search the residence of one of the 15-year-old’s where 14 stolen firearms, along with accessories, were located.
Investigators have since located additional handguns and rifles that were reported stolen.
Police and ATF are continuing their investigation. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of any of the outstanding firearms and accessories is asked to immediately call police at (575) 526-0795.
[ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE 7:31 AM, June 25, 2024]
Investigators learned that shortly before 4 a.m. on Sunday, June 23, 2024, at least two juvenile boys broke into and burglarized Miller Guns and Ammo, 518 N. Telshor Blvd. The investigation revealed that the teens stole 30 firearms, ammunition and accessories worth more than $30,000.
Surveillance video was obtained and showed the juveniles arriving in a Kia Forte. Police learned the Kia was stolen from an address on Eagle Ridge Drive.
Later, on Sunday, police were dispatched to the report of a subject with a gun on the 2300 block of Columbia Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located two juveniles – a 12-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy – and recovered two of the firearms that were reported stolen from the gun shop.
Police obtained consent to search the 15-year-old boy’s residence where 14 handguns and rifles, along with accessories, were located.
Investigators have since located additional handguns and rifles that were reported stolen.
Both juveniles have been charged with aggravated burglary, breaking and entering and larceny of more than $20,000. The 15-year-old also faces one count of possession of a stolen vehicle. Because of their ages, police will not name the two suspects.
Police and ATF are continuing to investigate this incident. Anyone with information on this case, or information on the whereabouts of any of the outstanding firearms and accessories, is asked to immediately call police at (575) 526-0795.
