News

Actions

VIDEO: Crooks struggle to break into pickup truck before shattering glass and stealing loaded gun

Posted at 5:29 PM, Jun 27, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-27 20:17:02-04

While Keelan and Jake Moore slept in their Hartville home Monday morning, a group of crooks spent more than 15 minutes struggling to break into the family's pickup truck.

Eventually, the crooks succeeded and got away with Jake's loaded gun, but the crime was captured by a surveillance camera mounted to the home on Edison Street NE.

"When we first watched the video, it was pure like rage inside of us," Keelan said.

"It's hard to see that. This is my house. I'm the one that protects this house and it makes you feel very vulnerable," Jake added.

The video, from just after 4 a.m., shows two people wearing hoodies and shining a flashlight into the truck for several minutes.

At one point, one of them tossed a rock, but it bounced off the window.

"If you watch the video, it's kind of comical how they try to break in and fail. They nearly get hurt trying to break the window of the truck," said Hartville Police Chief Larry Dordea.

As the video continued, a shirtless man appeared and repeatedly slammed a flashlight against the window until it shattered.

The thieves opened the door and snatched Jake's 9mm pistol.

"I made a huge mistake, left my carry concealed gun in my truck one night and that was my mistake," Jake said.

Over the past few weeks, nearly 30 car break-ins have been reported in Plain Township, Lake Township and Marlboro Township. Investigators believe the same group is likely responsible for the rash of crimes.

In most of those cases, the vehicles were left unlocked. Guns, electronics, liquor and medications were stolen in some of the break-ins.

In addition to the video, police have DNA evidence from blood and hair that was found on shattered glass outside of the Moore's home.

Jake posted his surveillance video on YouTube and has more than 7,000 views.

"The whole goal of it is not popularity. It's literally to spread the word and hope somebody notices them."