Albertson's Break-In Solved

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor-

Two teens have confessed to breaking into Albertson's Sport Shop early Tuesday and police are waiting to talk to a third suspect.

Detective Sgt. Tom Brindle of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department said the teen stopped by Warsaw police for driving without his headlights turned on near the gun shop was one of the three suspects in the burglary.

The 17-year-old from Fort Wayne was questioned by police regarding why he was there at the time and the teen said he and his friends were looking for a dark place to park and drink. The teen was issued a citation for curfew violation and sent home.

At the time of the traffic stop, about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, it was apparently the second trip to Warsaw from Fort Wayne by two of the suspects. The three are believed to have committed the burglary about 1:15 a.m.

After loading up guns, ammunition and other items from the gun shop, the three returned to Fort Wayne. They then realized that a duffle bag taken with them into the store had been left behind. Two of the teens, all from Fort Wayne, returned to Warsaw. The traffic stop occurred when one of the two teens was inside retrieving the duffle bag. That teen reportedly saw the lights from the squad car and stayed in the shadows to avoid detection.

Because the teen who was stopped by police was escorted to the county line, he was unable to pick up his accomplice. He then returned to Fort Wayne and awoke the other teen, who helped him gather up the weapons to take them back to the gun store.

En route to Warsaw for the third time that night, the teens reportedly ran out of gas with the carload of guns. They were able to get fuel for the car and got back to the store, where they put the guns back inside. Police found 22 long guns and 13 handguns stacked inside the back door of the store after the owner called about 6:40 a.m. to report the break-in. The teens had gotten the items back in the store about 6 a.m.

Brindle said the parents of the two teens already interviewed cooperated fully with authorities. The third teen's parents are out of town and he will be interviewed upon their return.

The teens apparently were planning to use the weapons in a shooting range being built in the basement of one of the suspects' homes.

All of the inventory taken from Albertson's was recovered, but the matter remains under investigation, Brindle said. All three teens will be charged with burglary and theft. [[In-content Ad]]

Two teens have confessed to breaking into Albertson's Sport Shop early Tuesday and police are waiting to talk to a third suspect.

Detective Sgt. Tom Brindle of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department said the teen stopped by Warsaw police for driving without his headlights turned on near the gun shop was one of the three suspects in the burglary.

The 17-year-old from Fort Wayne was questioned by police regarding why he was there at the time and the teen said he and his friends were looking for a dark place to park and drink. The teen was issued a citation for curfew violation and sent home.

At the time of the traffic stop, about 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, it was apparently the second trip to Warsaw from Fort Wayne by two of the suspects. The three are believed to have committed the burglary about 1:15 a.m.

After loading up guns, ammunition and other items from the gun shop, the three returned to Fort Wayne. They then realized that a duffle bag taken with them into the store had been left behind. Two of the teens, all from Fort Wayne, returned to Warsaw. The traffic stop occurred when one of the two teens was inside retrieving the duffle bag. That teen reportedly saw the lights from the squad car and stayed in the shadows to avoid detection.

Because the teen who was stopped by police was escorted to the county line, he was unable to pick up his accomplice. He then returned to Fort Wayne and awoke the other teen, who helped him gather up the weapons to take them back to the gun store.

En route to Warsaw for the third time that night, the teens reportedly ran out of gas with the carload of guns. They were able to get fuel for the car and got back to the store, where they put the guns back inside. Police found 22 long guns and 13 handguns stacked inside the back door of the store after the owner called about 6:40 a.m. to report the break-in. The teens had gotten the items back in the store about 6 a.m.

Brindle said the parents of the two teens already interviewed cooperated fully with authorities. The third teen's parents are out of town and he will be interviewed upon their return.

The teens apparently were planning to use the weapons in a shooting range being built in the basement of one of the suspects' homes.

All of the inventory taken from Albertson's was recovered, but the matter remains under investigation, Brindle said. All three teens will be charged with burglary and theft. [[In-content Ad]]

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