Surveillance Video Shows Thief Stealing Pistol From Gun Shop

Garland police have released surveillance footage of a man who stole a semi-automatic pistol from a gun shop and shooting range earlier this month.

The man stole a 9mm Browning Hi Power pistol from Target Master Indoor Shooter Center in the 1700 block of South Jupiter Road on May 6.

"That really upsets me, that a gun that was in my store is now on the streets in the hands of the bad guys," said Target Master owner Tom Mannewitz.

Mannewitz said the man pretended to be interested in using the shooting range. Police said the man hung around the store for about 10 minutes. Surveillance video shows him leaning over the counter and snatching the gun while employees were turned away to get his paperwork.

The pistol was worth at least $750, but Mannewitz and police both say they want to get the weapon back so it doesn't stay in the wrong hands.

"It's a gun in the hands of a dishonest person," he said. "He can use it to rob with, he can use it to kill with -- it's a weapon," Mannewitz said.

"Here's a person who is a cold thief who stole a gun, and these kind of people sell guns on the street and put them in the hands of people that cause our problems, create crime," he said.

The thief's getaway car was a silver, four-door car with damage on the passenger side front fender.

"What we're needing is the public's help to help us identify this young man," Garland police spokesman Joe Harn said.

The surveillance video gave police a very good facial picture, he said.

"Somebody knows him, also the vehicle that he's leaving in," Harn said.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Garland Crime Stoppers at 972-272-8477.

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