Armed robbers took 59 guns in home invasion, police say

One victim works in gun shop, kept many firearms in safe.

Two GARFIELD HEIGHTS — armed men forced their way into a Garfield Heights home, held a couple at gunpoint and stole 59 firearms from a safe, police said.

No arrests have been made in the Friday home invasion robbery on Care Drive near Donovan Drive, detectives said Tuesday afternoon.

The man who lives in the home works at a local gun shop and kept dozens of firearms in a safe, detectives said. The robbers forced him to give up the code to the safe and took dozens of handguns, several rifles and ammunition, detectives said.

Detectives did not provide values for the stolen guns.

The robbers told the couple that they knew the guns were in the house and later suggested they knew one of the couple’s relatives, according to a police report.

The man told detectives that he was sleeping on a couch shortly before 7 a.m. when he heard a loud noise outside. He opened the front door, and the two robbers pointed guns at his head, the report says.

Detectives later determined the loud noise was likely the sound of one of the men trying to kick in the door.

One of the robbers went upstairs and pointed a gun at a woman, who heard the commotion and opened a bedroom door. The robbers forced the man and the woman to lie on the ground, the report says.

The robbers took several guns that were in display cases, then forced the man to give up the code to the safe. They put dozens of guns in pillowcases and left the home, the report says.

The man provided serial numbers for the stolen guns. Detectives reported them stolen through a law enforcement database.

The robbery remains under investigation, detectives said Tuesday.