BEECH GROVE, Ind. — Gun store owners are spending thousands of dollars to protect their businesses against thieves.
Earlier this week, suspects allegedly crashed a stolen car into a Greenwood gun store and stole several guns.
In May 2023, Beech Grove Firearms was victim to a similar crime. Investigators say these crimes are happening a lot recently.
"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, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Greg Burges, owner of Beech Grove Firearms, installed concrete barriers in front of his store.
"They weigh 3,500 pounds a piece," Burges said.
The barriers line the entire outside of the building.
"It's not very esthetically pleasing. However, I'm more concerned about keeping bad people from doing bad things, versus cosmetics at this point," Burges said.
Burges said he wants something done on the state level to punish for this crime.
"I think it's time for the legislatures to put enhancements into a gun store burglary, my personal opinion, you know, say 10 years. You break into a gun store and steal a firearm, it's a 10-year mandatory sentence. Now that's just an another layer of deterrent," Burges said.
He's hoping all the work he has done to protect his business pays off.