DEARBORN HEIGHTS (WWJ) - Authorities in Metro Detroit are on the lookout for thieves behind an alleged 'smash and grab' scheme that saw dozens of handguns and rifles stolen from two businesses in the last 48 hours.
The Dearborn Heights Police Department said a group of suspects are responsible for two separate incidents at a pawn shop in the 24600 block of West Warren while a similar theft occurred at Armed in Michigan on S. Wayne Road in Warren.
On September 11, 2022, Dearborn Heights police said suspects smashed a vehicle through the front of C&C Coins just after 5 a.m. The suspects took multiple handguns and long guns that the shop had for sale and fled the area.
Police said the alleged thieves struck the same pawn shop again on September 12, just after midnight. The building was still boarded up from the first break-in the previous day, but authorities said the suspects rammed their vehicle through the boards.
They stole an undisclosed amount of weapons before fleeing the scene once again.
Police said they believe multiple people are behind the thefts as video surveillance footage shows several people rifling through the store.
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“These are very serious incidents which demand the full weight of the investigative resources of not only our agency, but our partners with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives who sent agents to each scene to further the investigation” Dearborn Heights Chief of Police Jerrod S. Hart said in a prepared statement.
In addition to the incidents in Dearborn Heights, Warren shop owner Spencer Wong told WDIV that his business was targeted in a similar manner early Sunday morning.
As reported by WDIV, alleged thieves in a stolen Kia SUV rammed the vehicle into the front of Armed in Michigan. Eight people reportedly got out of the Kia and were able to grab 50 guns before running to another vehicle across the street and driving away.
"It hurts, it truly does hurt because whatever they do with the guns, we don't know what they're going to do, where they're going to do it at. It's just terrible," said Wong to WDIV.
Wong said the smash and grab attempt on his business was well-planned.
"They strategically picked and chose," he said. "They got the good stuff. They got the expensive stuff."
Authorities in both cities believe the cases could be related, WDIV reported.
Back in Dearborn Heights, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering up to a $20,000 reward for information about the thefts that occurred at C&C Coins pawn shop.
Anyone with any information can contact the Detroit ATF Field Division at 313-202-3400, or 1-888-283-8477. Information can also be sent to ATFTips@atf.gov or through ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips.
According to authorities, those eligible for the reward must provide tips leading to the arrest and indictment of a suspect. The tipster must also leave contact information to collect the $20,000.
Information can still be submitted 100% anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-773-2587 or online here.