Burglars enter Gun World in Burbank through roof, steal guns

This post has been updated.

Burbank police closed streets around a gun store for several hours Thursday morning as they investigated reports that burglars had stolen handguns from a display case.

The break-in, reported about 4:40 a.m. at Gun World, 2412 W. Magnolia Blvd., prompted officers to close off surrounding streets about one hour later as officers searched the building and immediate area for burglary suspects, who police said entered through the roof.

The number of stolen weapons was not immediately known, and Officer Joshua Kendrick said the business has been burglarized before, although he was not certain if entry was also made through the roof.

A nearby business owner who requested his name not be used for fear of retaliation by the burglars, said that a few weeks ago thieves also attempted to enter the gun shop from the roof. A police presence was visible, but not to the degree present today, the business owner said.

Kendrick said he was not sure if there were surveillance cameras in the gun store.

Gun World was in the news in June 2009 when a 29-year-old Studio City man committed suicide there by shooting himself in the head in a back room of the business.

In August 2010, the store was shut down for violating weapons registration laws but is now under new ownership.

Daemion Garro, one of the owners, was not at the store Thursday and could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to its website, Gun World caters to clients from all over Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, describing itself as the largest firearm, ammunition, handgun and rifle accessories showroom in Southern California.

By about 9:30 a.m., streets reopened to through traffic.

-- Maria Hsin, Times Community News

Twitter: @mariahsin