Watsonville Police investigate gun store burglary
UPDATE: 10/5/2017 12:29 p.m. Police responded to a burglary at a gun shop in Watsonville and believed the suspects could still be inside.
According to Watsonville Police, officers responded to 14 Blanca Lane around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning after the owner of Markley’s Indoor Range said guns were missing from the building.
Officers entered the shop and noticed a broken display case with handguns missing. Police officers searched the building and discovered a suspicious van parked alongside the building. That van was later determined to have been stolen out of Aptos early Wednesday morning.
Officers were not sure whether the suspects had left the area or were still in the building. Police said the suspects had access to weapons and ammunition. The department decided to secure the building and placed the surrounding areas on lockdown.
Watsonville Police Special Response Unit arrived and entered the building along with Santa Cruz Police Department’s armored vehicle and the Santa Cruz Police Department ESU (Emergency Response Unit).
No suspects were located inside the building. The search was completed around 4:30 p.m.
The burglary is still under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the WPD Investigation Division at 831-768-3350.
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Police are investigating a burglary at a gun shop in Watsonville.
According to the Watsonville Police Department, officers responded to 14 Blanca Lane around 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning after the owner of Markley’s Indoor Range said guns were missing from the building.
Police do not believe anyone is inside the building.
Santa Cruz Police have sent the department’s Bearcat to assist at the scene.
Sgt. Brian Ridgeway said they’re taking precautionary measures and have placed the Hearts and Hands Christian Preschool and the Watsonville Center for Employment Training on lockdown while police search the area.
KION’s Ashley Keehn will have the latest details at 5 and 6 p.m.
(Picture courtesy: Jim Santos)
