Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
Eugene Golubtsov, the owner of LugerMan gun store on East Old Lincoln Highway, had two sets of security systems in place, but that wasn’t enough to stop five suspects from breaking into his business and stealing 21 firearms.
Golubtsov, a firearms expert who has worked in the industry locally for years, awoke early Tuesday morning to find out the group of men were breaking into his shop.
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Middletown Township police responded within one minute of the 9-1-1 call alerting them of the burglary. Officers spotted a Kia Sportage rushing away and a pursuit began.
Police said the pursuit went into Falls Township, where that township’s officers laid down stop sticks, which did damage to the tires.
The car and five suspects inside continued through Morrisville Borough and across the Calhoun Street Bridge onto Route 29 in Trenton, police said.
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Detective Lt. Steve Forman said the Kia that was damaged from the stop sticks ended up getting into a minor crash and all five suspects fled.
Bucks County police and Trenton officers chased on foot as other officers set up a containment zone in the area, which Forman said led to the arrest of three teenage boys.
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Two suspects, possibly teenagers, got away, police said.
Officers removed the stolen guns from the Kia, which was found to have been reported stolen last week, Forman said.
“Thank God all the guns were captured,” Golubtsov told LevittownNow.com.
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They didn’t take any of my collectible stuff. They took stuff that is popular on the streets,” Golubtsov noted.
An ongoing investigation found that suspects entered the gun store through a second-floor window and busted through a security door, Forman said.
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Golubtsov explained that the suspects went right past expensive custom guns and took ones that were in glass display cases.
Surveillance footage from LugerMan showed the suspects entering the store by climbing on top of the Kia. It also shows the suspects breaking into the gun cases.
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The cameras also showed the suspects had trouble at first getting into the building. They left and came back, ended up having to call someone for help finding a way to get in, Golubtsov said.
Detectives were continuing as of Tuesday afternoon to probe the crime. They are also working with out law enforcement agencies to see if the five suspects could be connected to similar crimes in the region.
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Federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were also on the scene and involved in the investigation.
Golubtsov said area gun shop owners often talk and have been aware of burglaries in recent months.
The business owner said he believes the suspects may have scouted his store in advance and he might recognize the one suspect.
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The store will undergo improvements to increase safety.
The three teenage suspects in custody are in New Jersey. Bucks County authorities plan to begin efforts to extradite them to Pennsylvania.
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Original Story:
Three teenage boys were in custody Tuesday morning after they allegedly broke into a Middletown Township gun shop.
The incident started around 3 a.m. at the LugerMan gun store on East Old Lincoln Highway. The shop is known for historical firearms restorations, parts, sales, and manufacturing.
The three teenagers were in custody and two other men were being sought. The three suspects were being held in New Jersey, police said.
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An ongoing investigation found that suspects entered the gun store through a second-floor window. A ladder was propped up against the building, police said.
The suspects took several weapons from the building, but investigators were still tallying the number, police said.
Detective Lt. Steve Forman said it is believed all guns were recovered.
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Middletown Township officers responding to an alarm system from the gun shop arrived to see a Kia Sportage leaving the business. They began a pursuit, Forman said.
Officers were on scene within one minute of the alarm call.
Falls Township police put out a spike strip during the chase, which continued through Morrisville Borough and across the Calhoun Street Bridge onto Route 29 in Trenton, Forman said.
The five suspects bailed from the Kia after it became disabled in Trenton and the three were captured after a foot chase by Trenton and Bucks County authorities, police said.
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Forman said it took about an hour to get the three teenagers in custody.
The Kia used was reported to be stolen on May 23, police said.
Video from Fox 29 reporter Steve Keeley showed guns with tags being pulled from the vehicle.
Detectives were at the gun shop as of 8 a.m. and continued to gather evidence.
Federal authorities were aware of the crime.
Authorities said they were working to determine if the burglary was connected to any other similar incidents in the region.
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