WINCHESTER, Indiana — Police in eastern Indiana took four teens into custody early Saturday morning for their alleged roles in crashing into a gun store and stealing several guns.
Around 3:45 a.m. on July 22, Winchester police responded to an alarm activation at the Apex Shooter Supply, near U.S. 27 and East Washington Street.
Police arrived and determined a car crashed into the front doors, and multiple guns were stolen.
A short time later, police said they located the two suspected vehicles, and a chase ensued. Police said one of the cars crashed nearby, and the other continued into Ohio before being stopped in Pitsburg, near Dayton.
Police confirmed four teens from Ohio, ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old, were taken into custody.
Winchester Police Chief Mike Burk estimated about 50 firearms were stolen, with most of them being handguns. Investigators are now working with the store owners and ATF to make sure all guns are accounted for.
The burglary was also captured on surveillance video, which helped police make the quick arrests.
“That is a big reason why we were so successful,” Burk said.
Around 10 a.m. on Saturday, Apex Shooter Supply posted a message on its Facebook page that said, "We will be closed today due to burglary. Please don’t come to our store it is an active crime scene. We will update hours next week."
The Randolph County Sheriff's Department, Union City Police Department, Darke County (Ohio) Sheriff's Department, Greenville Police Department, Ohio State Patrol, Indiana State Police, Federal ATF, and the Darke County and Randolph County communication centers assisted in the incident.
Winchester is roughly 90 miles northeast of downtown Indianapolis.