Multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating a series of gun store robberies in the Pittsburgh area and KDKA Radio's Marty Griffin has learned Judge Tiffany Sizemore is declaring juveniles arrested for break-ins at gun stores mentally incompetent to stand trial and releasing them to a parent.
More than two dozen firearms were stolen early Monday at Keystone Shooting Center in Marshall Township.
A window was broken with a hammer and three people entered the store while another waited in a stolen car.
Allegheny Arms owner Josh Rowe says his Bethel Park store was hit in January.
“in our case alone, the stole almost 60 firearms and they were only in the store 40-odd seconds.” Rowe told KDKA Radio’s Marty Griffin.
The crimes are similar, with young people smashing windows, grabbing as many firearms as possible and leaving in a stolen car.
Rowe says some of the guns have been recovered but, “even if you figure half have been recovered, that’s still almost 30 firearms that are out on the street right now.”
Griffin reports Judge Sizemore releases the juvenile suspects to a parent.
He adds the same teens go on to break into more gun shops.
That reporting from Griffin confirms the suspicions of Rowe.
“I’m glad that has been confirmed, it’s a horrendous situation that we’re having to work with, but I’m glad that you found that out.”