Gun store owners are on alert after another store was burglarized this past weekend in Kaufman County.
"I feel like it's an epidemic," said Tracy Adkins, owner of Gotta Have Guns in Forney, where thieves tried to break in back in December.
"There's been multiple stores in the Dallas area that have been hit, and it seems like the criminals that are doing this are professionals. That's what they do for a living," Adkins said.
The most recent burglary occurred early Sunday morning at CYA Guns & Ammo, which is just on the other side of Highway 80 in Forney from Gotta Have Guns.
Four to five thieves wearing masks used a stolen pickup truck to smash through the front door, then sped away with more than a dozen long guns.
It was the second break-in at that particular store in less than two months.
"They're stealing vehicles, doing smash-and-grabs and doing what they can to try to take things out," Adkins said.
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Five gun thieves got away with 39 handguns at Euless Guns & Ammo on May 27, driving away in a stolen pickup they backed up to the front door to break it down.
"I guess the real question is what are the criminals doing with these guns?" Adkins said. "I mean, are they selling them on the black market to people to break in to rob and kill people, or are they selling the guns across the border?"
Thieves in a stolen SUV rammed Gotta Have Guns in December, but they couldn't break through the wall to get inside.
Now, with steel posts are installed around that corner of the building to stop another attempt.
"I feel like every gun store owner has to be vigilant," Adkins said. "They have to take precautions and set up ways that they can protect their stores and protect their merchandise from getting out to the black market to where it's used for nefarious purposes."
Local police and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are investigating, but no one is saying whether the crimes are connected.
