Video shows break-in at Libertyville gun shop, linked to Des Plaines attempt
Authorities said Wednesday they believe there is a connection between break-ins at gun shops in Des Plaines and Libertyville that occurred within an hour of each other Tuesday morning.
Des Plaines police said a vehicle smashed into the receiving bay doors of Maxon Shooter's Supplies and Indoor Range, 75 Bradrock Drive, at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday, but the suspects weren't able to get into the interior of the building where the guns are stored.
An hour later, a pickup truck backed into and smashed the front windows of Just Target Guns, 334 W. Peterson Road in Libertyville, but the burglars weren't able to take any guns since they were stored in a walk-in, bank-style safe, the owners said.
Libertyville police Lt. Bill Kinast said the police departments of Libertyville and Des Plaines are working together because vehicles in both incidents "look to be identical."
Surveillance video from the Libertyville store's cameras released Wednesday shows the force at which the vehicle struck the store, causing the large glass windows to shatter and reducing four rows of brick at the base of the windows to rubble.
In Des Plaines, the driver tried to ram through bay doors on the northeast and southwest corners of the building, smashing in far enough to allow entry to the loading bay, police said.
There was also damage to the rifle range ventilation equipment that requires repair, and as a result the rifle range is likely to be closed until at least Tuesday, Aug. 30, a Maxon store manager said. The pistol range and the store remain open.
Several fragments of the vehicle were found near the damaged doors, and the vehicle left tire and skid marks nearby, police said.
Maxon relocated in 2013 to Bradrock Drive in an industrial area on Des Plaines' south side from Rand Road.
At its previous location, burglars used a sledgehammer to break through two doors and protective bars, smash glass display cases and grab more than 200 firearms in 2012. Some of the guns were later found at a house on Chicago's South Side, leading to the arrest of five teens. And in 2008, a Mount Prospect man admitted to stealing 19 guns in two robberies and told police he sold 18 of the firearms to a Chicago street gang for between $400 and $500 each.
Sarah Natalie, Maxon's general manager, declined to comment on specifics of the store's security measures but said, "Obviously we take security very seriously, and these criminals were completely unsuccessful in their attempt to access secure areas of our facility."
Des Plaines Police Chief Bill Kushner said the store's security was excellent at the new location but that Maxon's was working Wednesday on upgrades. "As threats change, you have to adapt your security system to it," Kushner said.
In Libertyville, police said Wednesday they believe two people were involved in the burglary at Just Target Guns - one man who went inside the store while another man waited in the truck. Des Plaines police also believe two suspects were in involved in their burglary.
After the Libertyville break-in, the truck drove away, apparently when the suspects saw they still couldn't access the store's guns, only to return a short time later when the truck's passenger got out and stole cases of ammunition, police said.
Surveillance video shows the man walking into the store amid the rubble and looking around before deciding to take a box off a shelf.
The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, 18-25 years old. His face mostly concealed by a bandanna, he is seen in the video wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, black and white shorts and black high-top gym shoes. He also was carrying a backpack slung over one shoulder.
The pickup truck is dark-colored and should have fresh damage to its rear, the rear driver's-side quarter panel, and the undercarriage, police said.
Just Target Guns remains open while new front windows are installed.
• Daily Herald staff writer Bob Susnjara contributed to this report.