CERRITOS - The Los Angeles Sheriff's Department is searching for the people who crashed a stolen van into a Cerritos gun shop in a suspected robbery.Sheriff's deputies responded to Ammos Bros., located at 15979 Piuma Ave., at 4:40 a.m. Monday after receiving reports of a vehicle crashing into the business. Responding deputies found that a van had crashed into the front doors of the gun store. Deputies quickly determined it was not "simply a traffic accident," authorities said. The blue and white 1984 Chevrolet van, which was reported stolen on Saturday night from Bellflower, was used as a battering ram for would-be thieves to burglarize the store of firearms and ammunition, sheriff's officials said. Because the store owner had taken "extraordinary security measures" to protect the shop, the suspects were unable to enter the store and nothing was taken. "Due to the nature of the crime, where the suspects were presumably targeting firearms, detectives are actively investigating the incident," said Lt. Richard Harpham of the Sheriff's Cerritos station. "Had the suspects been successful and the guns were on the street, it would present an inherent danger to the public." Detectives are searching for two or three males who attempted the burglary. A gray sedan and champagne-colored Ford Excursion may have been used as getaway vehicles. Anyone with information on the case is asked call the Sheriff's Cerritos station at (562) 860-0044. Tips can also be submitted by texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to 274637 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

********** Published: September 01, 2011 - Volume 10 - Issue 20