Suspects use vehicle to smash into San Carlos gun store, steal firearms

SAN CARLOS (KTVU/BCN) San Mateo County sheriff's deputies are seeking three suspects who used a car to smash through the front of a gun store in San Carlos and then took numerous firearms before fleeing.

The break-in was reported at about 5:20 a.m. Sunday at Imbert and Smithers, a gun store at 1144 El Camino Real, according to the sheriff's office.

Deputies responded and found that the front of the store had been smashed in by a vehicle and the suspects had fled.

Surveillance footage showed the three suspects jumping out of the black, four-door sedan that hit the front of the building. The suspects, wearing masks, gloves and hooded sweatshirts, stole guns before fleeing in the vehicle, sheriff's officials said.

City Councilmember Ron Collins stopped by to show his support. He told KTVU what he saw when he viewed the images. "I saw the video and I saw the three people ram it and then get out and come inside. It was a very brief video but it was quite impressive in a negative way," he said. 

The glass has been replaced in two of the store’s gun cases, but many of the guns that were on display are missing. 

Investigators say the burglars worked quickly. "Our deputies responded and arrived on scene in about two minutes. When they arrived they noticed that the front of the store had been smashed in," says Sheriff Det. Salvador Zuno. 

"Sometimes you can't get here quick enough. These people obviously knew what they were doing, and knew what they were going after," says Collins. 

No other information about the theft or suspects was immediately available. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call sheriff's Detective Andy Armando at (650) 363-4347 or email him at Aarmando@smcgov.org.

People can also call the sheriff's office's anonymous tip line at (800) 547-2700.