18 guns stolen from pawn shop

ALBUQUERQUE. NM (KRQE) - Police say they don’t have any suspects after a string of thefts across Albuquerque Sunday night.

A car was stolen from Coronado mall around seven that night, and was later used to smash through the front window of a pawn shop on Menaul Blvd. near Carlisle Blvd. NE.

“Many items were taken. 17 long guns, which is either a rifle or a shotgun, one hand gun and also the cash register was taken,” said Sgt. Tricia Hoffman of the Albuquerque Police Department.

It’s common for pawn shops to sell guns and other weapons, but Hoffman said no other pawn shops have been broken into lately.

Around 12:30 Monday morning the same car used in the pawn shop robbery was found torched on Kentucky St. near Lomas Blvd. NE.

“Fully engulfed,” said Jessica Lopez who lives near where the car was set on fire. “The entire street was just flames, and there were flames shooting up from the car.”

But the guns weren’t found in the torched car.

“These weapons could be sold, they could be used in a crime, that’s something we’re doing follow up on,” said Hoffman. “We’re talking to (the) burglary (unit) already because of the fear that these guns are already out on the street.”

So far, police have no suspects.