Two Peoria men arrested for thefts from Lincoln gun store
 

[March 09, 2020]  A Lincoln gun store, The Tactical Bunker, located on Sangamon Street was broken into on February 27th. Owner Montie Denny said that the burglar(s) broke the glass in the front door and entered the premises, then broke the glass in their main display case and took six to seven guns, leaving two guns laying on the floor as they hastily left the scene. A paving stone was found on the floor near the broken display case. Since the break-in Denny has enhanced security and put bars on the windows and doors, and remarked that the break-in and theft caused him a lot of lost sleep and anxiety.

Two Peoria men were arrested on March 4th in conjunction with the Tactical Bunker break-in.

Terrence M. Daniels, 19, and James D. Woolfolk, 20, both of Peoria, were charged in the burglary. In all the pair were charged for burglarizing six licensed firearms dealers in five counties, stealing 53 guns from licensed central Illinois firearms dealers since Christmas Day, 2019.

In each break-in, the perpetrators used the same methods to gain entrance to gun stores, and removed firearms from broken glass display cases. In several of the break-ins, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents were able to review surveillance videos of the burglaries, and in more than one break-in the same kind of paver stone was found on the premises.

Both men appeared before Magistrate Judge Jonathan E. Hawley in Peoria, and were ordered to remain in custody. Their arrests were the result of investigations by the ATF, the Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin, El Paso, LeRoy, Spring Valley and Lincoln Police Departments.

Both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted for the offenses of stealing firearms from a federal firearms licensee the maximum penalty for each count is up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

Tactical Bunker owner Montie Denny remarked that he was so glad that police arrested these guys and was much relieved, and said, "Hats off to all law enforcement that made this bust possible!"

[Jim Youngquist]