GREENWOOD, Ind. — Police are investigating after suspects allegedly crashed a stolen car into a Greenwood gun store and stole several guns early Monday morning.
The Greenwood Police Department told 13News that around 3 a.m. Sept. 9, around 20 handguns were stolen from the Greenwood Trading Post, located at 2801 Fairview Place A, off State Road 135 and a few blocks south of Fry Road.
Police said the suspect(s) drove the stolen car through a column and into the front doors of a the store, smashing the glass display case inside to steal about 20 handguns.
"Unfortunately, this has become the primary modus operandi on the way these burglaries are currently occurring over the last month or two, for sure," said John Nokes, ATF assistant special agent in charge.
Last month, thieves drove into the 9 Guns store in Anderson, taking several firearms. Police said the car was stolen from Indianapolis.
The ATF says gun shops in the Cincinnati area were recently hit by stolen cars six times in two weeks. More than 50 guns were stolen last year in Winchester, Indiana. And in May 2023, more than 40 guns were taken after a carjacked SUV rammed into Beech Grove Firearms.
"Because this is becoming more than more prevalent, many of the gun store owners, the licensees, are actually taking proactive steps to keep this from happening," Nokes said. "So they started reinforcing their buildings, reinforcing the perimeters or things like boulders or steel beams to keep these vehicles from being able to enter their businesses."
The Greenwood Trading Post buys guns and gold. The concern of law enforcement? Now, the stolen guns are already being sold on the street.
"Firearms are being sent out on Snapchat or other social media means, and they're being distributed very quickly, and then it's a real serious game of catch up, trying to figure out not only who the suspects are, but where these firearms have ended up," Nokes said. "It's unfortunate. It's paramount to the public that we get the firearms back as soon as possible."
Greenwood Trading Post declined comment Monday on the crash and grab.