Thieves drive truck into gun shop

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Police say burglars broke into a Norfolk gun shop by driving a truck through the storefront.

It happened just after 4 a.m. last Sunday morning at Davison's Discount Firearms on Briar Hill Road, according to police.

Owner John Davison returned to his shop Sunday to spray paint a message on what was once the front door. It reads "Davison's Firearms Remodeling. Still Open." 

Davison says the thieves smashed cases and stole 21 pistols.

An ATF spokesman says the burglars stole the U-Haul truck they rammed through the door five times.

Davison says there were more than two suspects, who wore hooded jackets to cover their faces. He says he watched it all play out on surveillance video.

Norfolk police and the ATF would not release the video to WAVY.com because it will compromise the investigation. An ATF spokesman says it's being analyzed by their technical operations department.

Davison says several audio and visual alarms sounded, but did not scare off the burglars.

"We've got our place pretty well secured and fortified," said Davison. "Shy of driving a truck through the building, there's really nothing you can do about that. It was definitely different."

An ATF spokesman says the guns can be tracked through serial numbers in the National Crime Information Center computer system.

Possible federal charges include theft of a firearm from a federal licensee.

Stay with WAVY News 10 and WAVY.com for updates on this developing story.