TURLOCK, Calif. — Officials are looking for dozens of guns stolen from the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds early Sunday morning.
“I'm also from Turlock and I've never heard of something like this happening," said Turlock Police Department spokesperson Dominique Sanchez.
Sanchez said the guns were part of the Turlock Gun Show that happened over the weekend. She said two unknown and armed suspects wearing ski masks and dark clothing robbed unarmed security guards at the county fairgrounds around 4:30 a.m. The robbery was called in by the security guards, who were hired by the gun show, according to Sanchez.
A perimeter was set up, but no one was found in the building. Police used drones and canines to search the area.
"That's when we made entry and did an indoor sweep of the building, where we confirmed that there was no one inside,” said Sanchez.
Evidence of a robbery was found along with one stolen gun and a ski mask. In addition, Sanchez said police found a hole in the gate, which appears to have been the suspects' point of escape.
Police said a total of 33 guns were reported stolen in total and have been entered into the Automated Firearms System. Sanchez said all of the guns taken were handguns.
"There were 34 guns stolen. The 33 that are still outstanding, we have been able to identify them and their serial numbers, so all of those guns have been entered into our automated firearm system. So that way, if anyone is caught in possession with them, law enforcement anywhere can run them serial number and see that is a stolen gun from this robbery,” said Sanchez.
ABC10 reached out to the Turlock Gun Show, but the inquiry was not immediately returned. Sanchez said there's been no prior incidents like this reported at the event in Turlock.
"This is still an active investigation. Our officers are still conducting follow up and working with DOJ (Department of Justice) and ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives) to get down to the bottom of this to see who the responsibles are and hold them accountable.
