Sumter, SC (WLTX) - The Sumter County Sheriff's Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives is investigating a break in of Tony's Gun Shop in Sumter. Ken Bell, the public information officer at the Sumter County Sheriff's Department, says it did not look like an amateur job.
"The first suspect went in with a hammer and knocked the glass with the display cases, and the second one came in behind him and was grabbing guns," Bell said.
Bell says it only took 52 seconds for these thieves to steal $20,000 dollars worth of guns from the shop.
"They went after the more expensive weapons," Bell said.
Bell says the thieves got in without breaking any glass.
"One of the suspects came to the door and stuck something in the lock and twisted it around and just popped the lock right off the door to gain entry," Bell explained, "then he returned with the second suspect and they went in."
Bell says deputies arrived four minutes after the alarm sounded, but it was too late.
"[It's] extremely frustrating," Bell said, "we did arrive here so quickly, but yet they were already gone."
Bell says the thieves' getaway was so quick, the K-9 unit could not pick up their scent.
"Generally they'll get a scent from the inside of what the footprint smelled like and they'll go after it, but they weren't able to track it anywhere," Bell said.
"Tony is a good man doing business [for a] long time," Bhagat said.
Bhagat says being robbed is hard on business owners.
"This situation," Bhagat said, "it takes some time to get back soon."
Now, Bell says tracking these weapons down is crucial as it is a matter of public safety.
"It's important we track these weapons down because we don’t want them to fall into the wrong hands," Bell said, "we are working diligently to discover who committed this crime."
Authorities say only handguns were stolen, no assault rifles. If you have any information on who is responsible, you are asked to call 1-800-CRIME-SC.