Palm Coast teen accused of stealing $25K worth of firearms from Pioneer Guns & Ammo
A 16-year-old Palm Coast teenager was arrested Wednesday after he wiggled his way into a gun store and stole more than $25,000 worth of guns, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
The News-Journal is not identifying him because he has not been charged as an adult. That could change.
Deputies were called at 8:11 a.m. on March 27 to Pioneer Guns & Ammo in Palm Coast after the burglary was discovered by a neighboring business.
Surveillance video shows a person wearing a hoodie breaking the glass door and then sliding through a gap at the center of the security bars. The person then forces open a display case and starts tossing handguns into a bag, according to the video. He also took two long guns.
The stolen guns were worth $25,859.63. The burglary took place at 2:15 a.m.
“A source close to the investigation” found the stolen guns and gave them to detectives.
Detectives found incriminating text messages on the teen's cellphone, according to the sheriff’s office. Experts also matched the teen’s DNA to DNA found at the gun store.
“Our investigators, CSI and RTCC teams worked hard to get these guns off the street before they could be used in violent crimes,” Sheriff Rick Staly said. “This kid learned the hard way that this was a very bad decision. Because of the dangerous potential of his crime, I hope the State Attorney will charge him as an adult and hold him accountable.”
The teen was charged with burglary while armed with a firearm and grand theft over $20,000 with damage over $1,000. The teen was booked at the Flagler County jail and turned over to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice where he is being detained.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida teen accused of stealing $25K worth of guns from local shop
