Suspects steal 35 firearms in Chantilly gun store burglary

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Fairfax County police said 35 handgun were stolen during a break-in at a gun store in Chantilly over the weekend.

The burglary happened early Saturday morning at the 50 West Armory gun store in the 13900 block of Metrotech Drive. Police said officers responded to the store after a burglary alarm went off at the store.

"The police department responded within minutes," said 50 West Armory manager Scott Wahl. "I'm surprised they didn't pull up while the people were still here."

Security camera footage shows it took only 48 seconds for two of the suspects to break in through the front door of the store and make off with the weapons.

"They proceeded to actually take what was closest to the front door," said Wahl. "We believe the reason they did that was because the way that our alarm immediately went off."

Wahl said a third suspect acted as a lookout while two others went into the store just after 5 a.m. Saturday.

In the store's surveillance video, the suspects are seen smashing several glass display cases and filling a large plastic tub with the weapons. Wahl said they took around $20,000 worth of guns while leaving behind $45,000 in damage.

Just two days earlier, security cameras captured two suspects breaking into United Gun Shop in Rockville, Maryland, smashing the glass display cases and pulling rifles off the walls. They made of with 31 guns total in less than 90 seconds.

RELATED STORY - VIDEO: Suspects steal more than 30 weapons in Rockville gun store burglary

"There are some definite similarities between the two," Wahl said. "I think from talking to the ATF as well as local law enforcement, it is very possible that these are connected."

The ATF is assisting in both burglary investigations as gun store burglaries around the country are on the rise.

According to police, the three suspects in the 50 West Armory burglary are described:

Suspect 1: Black male, about 22 to 30 years old, 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet tall, and approximately 190 to 210 pounds. He had dreadlocks and was wearing a dark blue jacket.

Suspect 2: Black male, about 18 to 22 years old, 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 1 inch tall, and approximately 165 to 185 pounds. He was wearing a dark jacket with a silver stripe down the sleeves, jeans, black shoes, and light colored gloves.

Suspect 3: Black male, about 18 to 22 years old, 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall, and approximately 150 to 170 pounds. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, jeans, black shoes, and light colored gloves.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Song at 703-591-0966 or Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131. Tips can also be submitted online to Crime Solvers at http://www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org, by text message to "TIP187" plus your message to CRIMES(274637) or by calling 1-866-411-TIPS(8477).