Police: Thieves stole 274 guns in Houston

HOUSTON -- Thieves have stolen 274 guns, including rifles and handguns, in an organized crime spree that targets gun stores and pawn shops in the Houston area, authorities said.

The culprits strike at night when businesses are closed, authorities said Thursday at a Crime Stoppers news conference.

"These are not smash-and-grab" burglaries, said Gary Orchowski, a special agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Electronics and jewelry also have been stolen, officials said.

Seven businesses have been hit in the well-orchestrated thefts, which began Dec. 2 at a pawn shop in Cypress, officials said. The most recent was Jan. 14, when three masked men carrying two-way radios were arrested on the roof of a business in Spring.

Officials said as many as seven people may be involved in the heists, and they are searching for four more.

"Guns in the wrong hands, there is nothing good that can come from that," said Harris County sheriff's Lt. Jeff Stauber. He said the burglaries are carefully planned, and the thieves move swiftly through the stores before they can be detected. Stauber declined to give additional details about the methods because investigations are ongoing.

So far, only one gun has been recovered, and it was used in an out-of-state crime, The Houston Chronicle reported Friday