Failed Gun Store Burglary In Spring Valley Part Of Larger Crime Spree

A Spring Valley business was targeted in an apparent firearms burglary ring.

Back on August 14th, a plate glass window was shattered by a thrown brick at Mean Metal Guns on East Saint Paul Street. Surveillance video showed two individuals in dark clothes loitering around the business. After the window is shattered, one individual is seen attempting to climb through steel grates that were installed as a security inside Mean Metal Guns. The individuals can't get in and end up leaving without ever gaining access to the business.

Further investigation led to suspects being from Peoria. In reaching out to other departments including the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), investigators determined gun dealers in five other places were victims of attempted burglaries.

Last Monday, four individuals were charged in federal court with conspiring to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Two of the four persons, 22-year-old Dezmond Hardy and 23-year-old Terrence Daniels are both charged in connection with the Mean Metal Guns incident. A third suspect in the Spring Valley case has been identified, but hasn't been charged at this point.

Daniels by the way was previously convicted of burglarizing the LZ Resale gun store in Spring Valley in 2020.