RENTON, Wash. — A Renton gun shop was targeted in a smash-and-grab overnight when the thieves used a truck to ram into the store and steal ammunition.
The owner of Pantel Tactical in Renton said the thieves stole ammunition and a $4,000 pair of night vision goggles from the store. No guns were stolen, however, because the owner said the guns were put in safes on Tuesday night.
Surveillance video captured the thieves slamming a truck into the gun shop.
The store owner said there was damage throughout the store, mostly in the front. The thieves are believed to have caused about $20,000 in damages.
WATCH: Surveillance video from the smash-and-grab robbery
“This store did a really good job at making sure they were well protected,” said Jason Chudy who is the Public Information Officer for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Seattle Unit.
There were metal gates behind the windows and bollards out front damaged the truck forcing the suspects to leave it at the store. Chudy said the robbery would have been a lot worse if firearms were taken.
"You know there's going to be nothing to stop somebody who really wants to get into a building and get something from getting it," he said.
The store owner said this is the first time thieves used a car to break into the store, but there have been two other attempts in the past. One of the past attempts involved the suspects using a sledgehammer to break the glass.
Police are looking for the suspects involved and whether the vehicle used in the smash-and-grab was stolen.
Mona Lisa Perez owns the restaurant next to Pantel Tactical and has also been broken into.
“Just pray that it doesn’t happen to us or anyone else,” she said.
“It’s going to keep happening because like I said, they’re not afraid of anything anymore,” continued Perez.
On Tuesday, The Association of Washington Business (AWB) and other organizations sent a joint letter to legislators asking them to address rising crime rates.
“This is a really important problem across our state and this is a time for there to be solutions,” said Dave Mastin who is with the AWB.
The Washington Retail Association says it’s not only businesses being impacted by this type of crime.
“My members lost $2.7 billion in product last year... $2.7 billion. What they don’t realize is that’s $270 million in uncollected sales tax that is lost,” said Mark Johnson with the Washington Retail Association.