NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio — An investigation is underway after multiple gun stores were broken into in Lorain County.
The break-ins happened in the early hours of Wednesday at stores in Amherst, North Ridgeville and Carlisle Township. North Ridgeville and Amherst police officials believe that all three break-ins are connected.
Below is a timeline of the incidents:
Amherst: Amherst Armory
Amherst police told 3News that at around 4 a.m. they received an alarm from Amherst Armory. Upon arriving at the scene, officers found the interior and exterior glass broken at the store. Police say that they believe the suspects did not get any items from the store, and were inside for less than a minute.
Amherst police chief Mark Cawthon said the business was also hit last summer, and similarly nothing was stolen, but said this is "not a regular occurrence" in the city.
"We work tirelessly to bring these folks to justice, and I’m very confident we’ll have some conclusion and have them in custody soon enough," he said.
North Ridgeville: Transform & Renew Arms
North Ridgeville police say it was around 4:30 a.m. when an alarm was received from Transform & Renew Arms on Center Ridge Road.
Upon arriving at the scene, officers found that three male suspects had allegedly broken the glass on the front door in order to enter the business. Police say that the suspects had fled prior to their arrival and stole ammo a magazine, and a bluetooth speaker, in a matter of 30 seconds.
“they appear to be three young adult males," said North Ridgeville detective Ryan Jones. "They're wearing gloves and ski masks, so that's what we've got to go off right now. Two of the three were wearing backpacks in the front of them, so that they could scoop stuff off the shelves quickly, put it in there, and run out.”
North Ridgeville police told 3News that looking at surveillance video, the suspects appeared to have been driving a red Hyundai sedan, which is believed to be stolen.
"You feel abused, you feel like – this is our livelihood, this is a business, we work hard to be here, in a matter of 30 seconds, someone takes advantage of it," said the owner of Transform & Renew Arms, who asked not to be identified. "It’s something in your life you don’t want to happen if you're a business owner.”
Carlisle Township: Rural King
The Lorain County Sheriff's Office told 3News that they responded to a break-in at Rural King on Oberlin-Elyria Road at around 4:51 a.m. The three suspects were not able to steal anything as all of the guns were secure.
Officials from the Lorain County Sheriff's Office confirmed to 3News that they located the suspects' vehicle, which was found abandoned in Lorain.
Additionally, North Ridgeville police officials told 3News that based on video surveillance, they can confirm that the vehicle involved was the same vehicle used in all three break-ins.