Intruders ram truck through Charlotte gun shop

CHARLOTTE — A crime was captured on video outside a Charlotte gun shop early Wednesday morning.

Officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department were called to the Arms Room after a train worker noticed an abandoned truck near tracks behind the gun shop on South Boulevard. It in fact had been reported stolen days ago.

The business’ alarm had also sounded. One look at the back of the gun shop, and the owner and police quickly knew why.

There was a large hole in the cement wall. Intruders used the stolen truck to drive through the business in hopes of stealing weapons, and it was all captured on surveillance.

The video showed three people on foot as they walked toward the store on the nearby train tracks. 

Another person pulled up in the stolen truck. 

Within seconds, the driver accelerated straight into the gun shop. 

Surveillance cameras inside the store captured the truck exploding through the cement wall.

The driver ran straight for the glass cabinets where dozens of weapons are displayed -- but only during business hours. 

They quickly ditched the truck and left the same way they came, empty-handed.

"I knew without a shadow of a doubt they didn't get anything, because we don't take any risks here with our guns getting out on the streets," Matt King, who owns the Arms Room, said. "We lock everything up at night."

King said his heart sank when he saw the gaping hole in his gun shop. 

Although the intruders weren't able to steal any weapons, this marks the second time in just five months his business has been targeted. 

In March, would-be thieves tried to break in using a large torch. 

King doesn't believe the cases are related.

Channel 9 asked CMPD if this case may be related to other, recent attempted break-ins. 

In March, thieves attempted to drive vehicles through The Gun Outlet on North Tryon Street and then Hyatt Coin and Gun on Wilkinson Boulevard.

Detectives said it's too soon to say if any of these cases are related but added this type of crime is a nationwide trend that's also happening here in Charlotte.

"Suspects are trying to get into these businesses to steal weapons and put them on the black market," Lt. Keith Cavines said.

King is confident he's seen the intruders in his shop before.

He's hopeful other businesses that run parallel to the train tracks may have captured the intruders on their surveillance cameras.  Police will likely look into that possibility.
 
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call police or report it anonymously to CrimeStoppers.

Cox Media Group