CALGARY – Police are investigating after several weapons were stolen from a southeast gun range during a break-in on Monday — and say it’s the second time in two weeks that the store has been targeted.
Police rushed to The Shooting Edge on Monday morning after the owner arrived to find someone had broken into the store through a window.
Police believe it happened sometime after midnight.
More than 20 weapons were stolen, however, investigators say that number may increase once the store’s complete inventory has been reviewed.
Meanwhile, police are also reviewing a similar incident just two weeks before.
On Sunday, May 11th, police say a man forced his way into the main door of the building, then used a baseball bat to smash open a display case.
Eleven handguns were stolen by the offender, who put them inside a backpack before leaving the scene on foot.
The man was wearing a black hoodie, blue jeans, red gloves with grey palms and white shoes.
BELOW: A surveillance photo captures a suspect entering The Shooting Edge on May 11th, 2014.
Police are trying to determine if the robberies are related.
The robberies have left the store’s owner extremely concerned, and questioning how it could happen given their high-tech security system.
The Shooting Edge has dense security posts called ‘bollards’ in front of the building, a film covering the windows, and reinforced walls – all used to prevent break-ins.
“I’m not suspicious about my staff,” explains owner JR Cox. “After we reviewed security tapes and you see how it went down, it made me feel good, if nothing else. I think my staff have been cleared by this.”
“It’s not an inside job,” says Cox.
It’s not the first time The Shooting Edge has been targeted.
In February of 2013, someone attempted to break into the building by backing a black truck into the front windows.
No one got inside the store and nothing was stolen.
At the time, Cox had credited the store’s layered security system with preventing further damage.
Another local shooting range was robbed the year before that.
In October of 2011, over 30 handguns were stolen from the Calgary Shooting Centre after thieves entered the building, taking weapons from several display cases.
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