MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Automatic license plate reader technology helped Murfreesboro Police identify suspects in two separate smash-and-grab burglaries that resulted in dozens of firearms being stolen from local businesses, according to police. Scroll down for a full video, as released by the Murfreesboro Police Department.
The Murfreesboro Police Department said crime data analysts used ALPR technology as part of the investigation into burglaries at Mid Tenn’s Pawn & Loan on Northwest Broad Street and Black Frog Arms & Range on North Thompson Lane. Two teenagers have been taken into custody, while detectives have also secured juvenile petitions for a third teen.
The most recent burglary happened around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, June 1, at Mid Tenn’s Pawn & Loan. Police said a stolen Kia Sol was rammed into a side door of the business. When officers arrived, they found broken glass display cases and discovered that three dozen firearms had been taken.
Surveillance video reportedly showed seven people involved in the burglary.
Reports from the MPD indicate a 17-year-old was later captured in Davidson County with assistance from the Metro Nashville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Police said the teen faces 40 felony charges, including 36 counts of theft of a firearm, burglary, theft over $10,000, theft over $2,500 and vandalism over $10,000.
One day after the pawn shop burglary, a 15-year-old surrendered to Murfreesboro Police. The arrest occured on Tuesday, June 2. Authorities said he faces the same charges in connection with the Mid Tenn’s Pawn & Loan burglary, along with additional charges tied to a separate case. Scroll down for a full video, and photos as released by the Murfreesboro Police Department.
Detectives have also secured juvenile petitions for a second 15-year-old, who is currently being held at the Davidson County Juvenile Detention Center on unrelated charges.
Police said the ALPR-related break in the case came after Murfreesboro Police Department crime data analysts reviewed private license plate reader video from a Nashville condominium complex. Analysts reportedly noticed a Honda CR-V circling the parking lot before two Kia vehicles were stolen.
A tag number connected to the Honda CR-V led investigators to the home of one of the teens. Police said several of the stolen firearms were later recovered at that location.
The investigation also connected one of the 15-year-olds to an earlier burglary at Black Frog Arms & Range, which occurred around 3:40 a.m. on May 2. In that case, police said burglars used a stolen Kia Sol to ram the front doors of the business before stealing multiple firearms.
Authorities said the 15-year-old who surrendered now faces 26 additional felony charges in connection with the Black Frog Arms & Range burglary.
Murfreesboro Police Department Property Crimes detectives continue to investigate both cases and are working to identify additional suspects believed to have been involved.
The 17-year-old and 15-year-old were booked into the Rutherford County Juvenile Detention Center. Both appeared before a juvenile court magistrate for a detention hearing on Wednesday, June 3. Police said they will remain in custody until their next hearing, which is scheduled for September 21.
The case highlights the growing use of real-time crime data, surveillance video and license plate reader technology in local investigations, especially in cases involving stolen vehicles, commercial burglaries and stolen firearms.
Below: Black Frog Firearms Burglary
