A 16-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man from Cleveland have been taken into custody in connection with the September burglary of a Westlake gun store, which resulted in the theft of 12 weapons, authorities say.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the break-in took place at around 12:09 a.m. on September 13 at Westlake Classic Firearms, which is located in the 26300 block of Center Ridge Road.
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According to investigators, the suspect used a hammer to smash a glass window and enter the store, stealing 10 handguns and two rifles before leaving.
Westlake police said they found DNA on the hammer within two weeks of the burglary, which led investigators to a 16-year-old Cleveland teenager. The teen has previous convictions for escaping police, receiving stolen property, breaking and entering, and attempting grand theft.
On September 30, Westlake police, ATF agents, and the WEB SWAT Team executed a search warrant at the teen’s residence, arresting him. Investigators found six weapons inside the home, including five stolen from the Westlake store. The 16-year-old is still in jail at the Cuyahoga County Jail.
Statements from the teen and information retrieved from electronic devices led investigators to a 20-year-old Cleveland man, whom police claimed served as the getaway driver. He was arrested in Lorain on November 8.
According to authorities, the remaining missing firearms have been entered into national databases as stolen.
