Police have arrested at least three people in a brazen smash-and-grab robbery at a Houston gun store on Tuesday morning.
Investigators are offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of several accomplices who got away.
The entire two-minute robbery was caught on tape by the store’s security cameras.
Footage shows at least 10 hooded thieves rush into the store after using a pickup truck to rip the shop’s iron security door from its hinges.
The assailants are seen smashing display cases, shoving pistols into their pockets, and grabbing rifles off wall racks. More than 50 guns were taken.
Police say the assailants got away by switching vehicles shortly after leaving the gun store.
The theft was done so hastily, several of the stolen guns were dropped in the store’s parking lot and left behind by the fleeing suspects.
Authorities believe the guns were stolen with the intention of selling them on the black market.
“You’ve got another criminal element that needs firearms to commit their crimes, sometimes associated with the drug trade or robberies,” said Robert Elder of the Houston Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
Investigators say this style of robbery has become more popular.
“We’re seeing an uptick, not only here in the Houston Harris County area, but we’re seeing an uptick across the country,” Elder said.
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