There have been several smash-and-grab burglaries of gun stores in western Pennsylvania over the past few weeks, and frustrated FFLs are taking their complaints about the way these cases are being handled in the criminal justice system to local reporters. 

KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh recently reported on the increased security measures some owners are investing in, but the business leaders say that's only one piece of the puzzle.

"If they are not going to jail and they are going to be let back out, then I don't know what good that does," said Kirk Radziukinas, the manager of Keystone Shooting Center. 

Yesterday, news broke from his store in Marshall Township. Now, talking to a handful of gun store owners, many are feeling a tad uneasy and feel like these crimes have to be connected. They're also worried they could be next. 

Now, at Keystone Shooting Center, they're making changes. 

"It's unfortunate what happened," said Radziukinas. "We are already taking bids on improving security measures here even further." 

Keystone Shooting Center's multi-million dollar Marshall Township facility was the latest target of thieves this week when four people pulled up to the store in a stolen car and smashed through laminated glass with a hammer. 

"There are individuals running through the store, they break off into two groups, these two come to this end of the store, take something off the shelves, and smash out one of the cases where they grab a couple of guns," Radziukinas recalled. "Then they move down to another case along the wall, which they smash out and grab some more guns from there. The third individual comes over and takes some guns off the rental wall." 

The trio stole a couple dozen guns and a couple of silencers. Police said a handful of those guns have been recovered and an adult and a teen were found to be in possession of some of them and were arrested. 

"It seems to keep happening if it's the same group of people," Radziukinas said. "I think it's more than just some random kids out having fun." 

Radziukinas questioned why these suspects are being allowed back out on the street after being arrested, telling the CBS affiliate, that without knowing their background or criminal history it's "hard to say, but they are not stealing candy bars from convenience stores, they are stealing guns."

Part of the problem with keeping suspected gun store burglars behind bars is that their offenses are considered non-violent in nature, even though it's fairly reasonable to argue that their actions pose a threat to the community... especially if they're trafficking those stolen firearms. Another issue is the young age of many of these offenders, given that the criminal justice system tends to release those accused of all but the most serious offenses to their parents or guardians ahead of trial. 

Even on those rare occasions where a suspect is held without bond until trial, there's no guarantee that they won't soon walk free after a plea deal. That's what happened to a pair of young (but still adult) defendants accused of breaking into a New Kensington, Pennsylvania gun shop last year.

Steyn Sarduy, 19, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Nora Barry Fischer as part of a plea agreement in the case.

His co-defendant, Michael Guin, was sentenced to 20 months in prison last month.

Both men must also pay a total of $1,500 in restitution, of which $1,000 will go to the gun store and $500 to a glass company.

According to federal investigators, Sarduy, of New Kensington, and Guin, 27, of Lower Burrell, used a stolen pickup as a battering ram to break into RC Firearms on Freeport Street around 3:30 a.m. on Jan. 22, 2024.

Once inside the gun shop, Sarduy used a hammer to smash the display cases, with Guin following behind and removing the guns, which included 17 9 mm handguns, three .380-caliber handguns and two 12-gauge shotguns.

After about a minute inside, prosecutors said, they got away with 24 guns. Only three were recovered.

Not only will the two men serve less than one month behind bars for every gun they stole, they don't even have to pay restitution to the owner of the truck they stole and used as a battering ram. And I'm betting that the damage done to RC Firearms was far in excess of the $1,000 they've been ordered to pay the owner of the gun shop. 

The frustration these FFLs vented to local media is completely understandable. What's hard to fathom is why these offenders are walking away with a slap on the wrist for such a serious crime. Hopefully the same DOJ that's now re-evaluating the Biden administration's legal position on Second Amendment-related cases will also take a second look at the lenient treatment given to these criminals, and will start to throw the book at them instead of offering such sweetheart deals.