Las Cruces police arrested four teenagers, ages 14 to 16, who are suspected of a weekend burglary that resulted in multiple firearms stolen from a local gun store.
Three of the teenage boys – one 14-year-old and two 15-year-olds – were charged with aggravated burglary with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit aggravated burglary, breaking an entering, criminal damage to property more than $1,000, larceny involving firearms more than $2,500, tampering with evidence and unlawful possession of a handgun by a person under 19 years of age.
A fourth teen boy, age 16, faces the same charges with an additional count of receiving stolen property valued at more than $2,500 but not more than $20,000.
Because of their ages, police cannot publicly identify them.
The burglary occurred about 2 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Strykers Shooting World, 415 S. Valley Dr. Police believe six to eight teenage boys used a stolen red Kia Forte to smash through the eastside gate and a rollup door to gain entry into the store.
The suspects left the damaged red Kia on scene and fled in another stolen, gray, Kia Forte.
An LCPD Patrol officer, who happened to be in the vicinity, heard an audible alarm from the store and discovered the break-in after the suspects fled. Other offices arrived within minutes and began the initial investigation.
Detectives from LCPD’s Criminal Investigations Division, with assistance from the Street Crimes Unit, Patrol and agents from ATF worked together to help identify some of the suspects.
Police detained the four teenagers Monday and executed a search warrant where several stolen firearms were recovered.
All four teens arrested Monday were turned over to authorities with the Juvenile Probation and Parole Office.
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are possible.
Anyone with information on this incident, or the suspects involved, is asked to call police at (575) 526-0795. Tips can also be submitted anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers of Las Cruces and Dona Ana County at 1-800-222-8477.
\n