Green Top Hit for 34 Hand Guns (VA)

[Titan6]

http://www.nbc12.com/Global/story.asp?S=8489692&nav=menu128_2

Don't know what a 3-80 handgun is but be on the lookout. Also video available in case you are out shopping FTF in coming weeks.

Dozens of guns stolen from Hanover store

Posted: June 13, 2008 06:20 PM EDT

Updated: June 13, 2008 06:21 PM EDT




By Beth Danziger - bio | email

Nearly three dozen guns were stolen from a Hanover store.

It happened a little after midnight at Green Top Sporting Goods off Washington Highway. But authorities have at least one good piece of evidence -- a surveillance tape.

Hanover deputies are calling this an extremely unusual break-in, especially since the burglars stole all 34 handguns in less than three minutes.

The team was caught on the store's surveillance cameras. You can see the two enter the store by breaking not only the glass front door, but security gate, as well.

Once inside the two bend down by the locked front case and break it, scooping up as many guns as they can. Then they take off just as quick as they came in.

The weapons taken ranged from a 3-80 caliber to a 50 caliber semi-automatic handgun.

Hanover Sheriff's Office Sgt.Chris Whitley says, "We are concerned about all break-ins, this certainly ups the antee for us. Certainly, because there are weapons involved and the weapons are not only involved -- but in the hands that have them illegally and instead of those that would have lawfully applied to have those weapons."

Deputies did search the immediate area with State Police and Richmond canine units but were unable to locate the suspects.

Although the thieves were wearing dark hoodies and masks the sheriff's office is hoping someone might be able to identify them.

Deputies say even something that seems minimal might break the case.

If you have any information, call Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.

 

[RP88]

maybe this should be sent to the Brady Campaign and show them how locking up guns doesnt work either...

 

[Maelstrom]

maybe this should be sent to the Brady Campaign and show them how locking up guns doesnt work either...

Which will revert them back to banning all guns. Good call.

 

[RP88]

You mean they stopped trying?

 

[RNB65]

Green Top's been hit before. They keep most of the guns in a heavily secured storage room at the back of the store, but the display cabinets up front are overflowing with handguns.

I assume the bad guys smashed their way thru the glass front door to get in. You'd think they might want to install unbreakable plexiglass in the doors instead of glass. Or maybe pay for an on-site night security guard. All those video cams and alarms don't seem to be doing them much good.

 

[Titan6]

Seems they were in and out in under four minutes. Alarm is not going to help much under those circumstances.

 

[brighamr]

"because there are weapons involved and the weapons are not only involved -- but in the hands that have them illegally and instead of those that would have lawfully applied to have those weapons."


Best statement I've ever heard or read from LEO. I'd like to shake that guys hand.

 

[Titan6]

Isn't that great? There seems to be at least one LEO in Hanover County that gets it.

 

[RNB65]

Alarm is not going to help much under those circumstances.

Not to mention that Hanover County CSI consists of two guys named Fred and Bubba riding around in a '76 Econoline van they got from a drug seizure and their only effective crime fighting tool is an old bloodhound named Hank who won't do a damn thing if the temp is above 85F.

 

[JohnBT]

Thank goodness, they didn't take the other 4,000 guns. I am planning on doing some shopping tomorrow.

A .380 to a .50 from one case? I'm thinking, the case on the right is 9mm, the one in the middle is .45 and one to the left is .40, so where was the .380 and the .50? Way over to the left past the case of .22's and the one of .38/.357 revolvers? Waaay over to the left by the shotguns and centerfire revolvers in the consignment case? (Did Patricia Cornwell ever sell all of her guns? Nevermind, just a stray thought intruding.)

I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

They'll catch them. The majority of crooks aren't smart.

John

 

[Tribal]

I was wondering about that, too, JohnBT. I was just in there yesterday so I know they haven't changed anything (although the 9mm case was looking a little sparser than usual; maybe because they put the Glocks on the wall).

The case on the left on the "island" is mostly .40, but it's also got some .380 and maybe other odd autoloader calibers. Now that I think about it, they may have had a Desert Eagle in there.

What it shows is that these thieves are ignorant. The .45 case, with all the Kimbers in there, is probably a lot more valuable than the case they hit. The one with the engraved shotguns is pretty nice, too. Then again, the case of medium and snub-nosed .38/.357 revolvers would have been one of the easier ones to fence.

 

[JohnBT]

I would have taken the ten or so shotguns from the freestanding case out on the floor - the one with the Rizzinis and Berettas and whatnot - the high (mid?) grade ones. You know, the odd L.C. Smith, Guerini, etc.

John

 

[Black Knight]

I got 2 guns from there over the years. My dad bought me my first handgun there, a 6" Colt Python. Years later I bought a 2 1/2" S&W 66 RB. I've been there many times. If these break ins keep up watch the Brady crowd and maybe BATFE attempt to require dealers to have security officers on site after hours.

 

[RP88]

What it shows is that these thieves are ignorant. The .45 case, with all the Kimbers in there, is probably a lot more valuable than the case they hit. The one with the engraved shotguns is pretty nice, too. Then again, the case of medium and snub-nosed .38/.357 revolvers would have been one of the easier ones to fence.

they probably passed on those because a crook looking to buy a stolen gun for 1200 bucks out of some guy's trunk isnt going to choose the engraved shotgun.

 

[Tribal]

they probably passed on those because a crook looking to buy a stolen gun for 1200 bucks out of some guy's trunk isnt going to choose the engraved shotgun.

Well no, not if he's ignorant. If he had any taste he would snap it up in a heartbeat.

 

[Big45]

Sounds like an inside job to me. I'd have a couple mean dogs watching the store if I were in the biz.

 

[ZombieHunter]

tribal i give you a firm /doh and i got a good laugh so thanks.

But yeah, what the LEO said was great...absolutely great and kudos to the writer and editor for not chainsawing it down and taking it out of context. Hope they find the guns...and I hope no one gets hurt by any of them. I gotta ask though, why wouldn't they steal the ammo? I mean even if they just melted it down that stuff is starting to get expensive even as scrap.

 

[JohnBT]

It's not all that interesting to watch, but the video shows them taking guns from the .40 case on the left and the .45 case to the right.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news/policebeat.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-06-14-0102.html

From the accompanying article:

"Green Top had a similar robbery 17 years ago when a stolen flatbed tow truck was used to smash a hole in the wall of the building. More than 145 guns were stolen then.

Anthony Andre Frazier and Alvin Anthony Simons were each sentenced to 40 years for breaking and entering and grand larceny for that robbery."

 

[zoom6zoom]

instead of those that would have lawfully applied to have those weapons."

Except that in Virginia, we don't have to "apply" to purchase a gun. Yeah, I suppose he could be talking about the instant check... but it doesn't come off sounding that way.

 

[JohnBT]

I see in the morning paper they've arrested 2 21-year-olds. One is from D.C. and the other is from Bowie, Maryland.

No other details in the paper, but I think I heard on the radio that they recovered some of the guns. Hey, I was running an electric razor at 6 a.m. and it was noisy.

John

 

[jlday70]

Bloomberg hired someone to do an Inside job so he could pass out more guns to criminals in NY....You know so he can blame other people for NYC's problems and not the damn criminals....












Of course this is extreme sarcasm.....

 

[RNB65]

Typical dumbasses.

The last group who hit Green Top are about 3/4 way thru their 20 year prison sentences. These two will probably be 40-somethings before they get out. I hope they enjoy it.

Former VUU quarterback charged in Green Top break-in

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2008 - 01:10 PM Updated: 01:30 PM

By RALPH N. PAULK
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER

Michael Henderson, a former back-up quarterback at Virginia Union, was one of two men arrested on Monday on multiple felony charges involving the June 13 break-in of Green Top Sporting Goods in Hanover County.

Henderson, 21, and Leon E. Waddy, 21, are charged with burglary, grand larceny, possession of burglary tools and conspiracy to commit burglary, according to Hanover County Sheriff spokesman Lt. Mike Trice. The two allegedly stole 34 handguns from the sporting goods store.

Henderson, who last season played in three games in helping the Panthers advance to the Pioneer Bowl, is being held in federal detention in Maryland, where he was arrested. Waddy is in federal custody in Washington, D.C.


Both men could face additional federal charges involving the break-in, according to Trice. Trice said Hanover authorities have issued a federal warrant to have Henderson extradited to Hanover County.

"Since the burglary occurred on June 13, our office has actively investigated," Trice said. "As a result of leads established by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in Richmond, Maryland and Washington, D.C., helped aid us in the investigation.

"We have retrieved some, but not all of the weapons. Right now, our focus has been on recovering the weapons and who, if anyone else, aided these gentlemen in the burglary or were involved in the distribution of these handgus since the burglary."Henderson, a native of Bowie, Md., had been Union's starting quarterback during his freshman season in 2004 under former head coach Arrington Jones III. He had been the backup the past two season behind All-CIAA quarterback Lemar Little.

Virginia Union Athletic Director Michael Bailey and head football coach Greg Richardson declined to comment on Henderson's arrest.

Jones, who coached Henderson for four years at VUU, said today Henderson's alleged involvement in the burglary comes as a surprise.

"I think everyone is a little shocked at this," Jones said. "He's been like the poster child for student-athletes. This kind of behavior has never been demonstrated.

"He started as a freshman quarterback. He brought his daughter to VUU and made the sacrifices to make things better for himself and his daugther. This is totally out of a character for this young man."

 

[Titan6]

Henderson, who last season played in three games in helping the Panthers advance to the Pioneer Bowl, is being held in federal detention in Maryland,

I guess one less morally handicapped football player headed for the NFL. I never saw him play but if he was playing back up to Lemar Little he might have had a shot at the pros. Hope he enjoys prison instead (assuming he is found guilty).

 

[Defensory]

They need a sturdier security gate. That skimpy thing couldn't keep out a determined junior high school kid.

The gun shop I frequent has a security gate comparable to prison bars. You'd need the right power saw and a lot of time, in order to get in.

On the sidewalk in front of the door, they also have a concrete barrier to prevent criminals from crashing the entrance with their vehicle.