Burglar(s) attempt to gain access to Belmont Firearms store & range

BELMONT — Local police are investigating an attempted burglary at the Belmont Firearms and Range on Route 106.

A person or people broke the glass in the front door but were unable to get past the common hallway. There are three doors at the Belmont range, the front door, a door about half-way down the hall and a third door that leads into the business itself.

Police said they are reviewing video surveillance to see if any suspects or cars can be identified.

Owner Bob Gillespie said yesterday that he thinks they walked to the second door and saw there was a light on in the range portion of the building and may have thought someone was inside.

"Nobody got into the gun shop," Gillespie said.

The business is closed on Mondays and Gillespie said he will occasionally hold special classes and events but that he didn't this past Monday.

He said the attempted break in occurred at 1:05 a.m. yesterday.

Gillespie said it appears as though the person or people tried to go around the back but were unsuccessful.

He said one of the neighboring shop owners in the building came to work yesterday morning at 8 a.m. and saw the broken glass. He said his neighbor called police immediately and they thoroughly examined the hallway area.

Gillespie said that breaking into or attempting to break into a firearms store is a federal offense and he believes the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been notified.

Anyone with any information is urged to call the Belmont Police at 267-8350. Callers can remain anonymous.

CUTLINE: (Belmont Firearms) Workers from Granite State Glass replace the window in the front door of the Belmont Firearms and Range yesterday. Someone or some people attempted to break in to the firearms store and range at 1:05 a.m. but were unsuccessful in getting beyond the common door.