Thieves steal 46 handguns from Seminole gun store

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A group of thieves broke into a Seminole County gun store through an air conditioning vent and stole two cases of weapons, according to investigators.

The handguns at Al's Army Navy on State Road 436 near 17-92 store are kept under lock and key for good reason.

Records show Florida has one of the largest black markets for stolen guns.

Last year nearly 11,756 were reported stolen, ranking Florida third only to Texas and Georgia.

"Most of those guns unfortunately will end up being in the police department evidence room somewhere in central Florida," manager Fred Meltzer said.

In addition to the 46 handguns, the group got away with a number of rifles and shotguns but they were so heavy the thieves ditched them on the way out of the store, some of the only evidence left behind.

The store's surveillance cameras weren't working properly that night, according to Meltzer.

"This is a federal offense, this is not a local thing. This is a federal offense. You're going to go to jail, federal jail, for a long time. That's what you're going to do," Meltzer said.

WFTV