No one found inside gun store surround by SWAT team
The Santa Barbara Police Department SWAT team made their way inside the Far West Gun and Supply store Thursday morning. Officers responded to an alarm at the business around 4:00 a.m.
The area around the business on the 2000 block of State Street was blocked off by police.
Police believed someone may have been inside the business.
After a search of the store and nearby businesses, police did not find anyone.
No injuries were reported.
“It’s obvious to us that someone attempted entry into the business,” said Sgt. Riley Harwood. “It’s not certain whether they made it inside, they may have been scared away.”
Employees from several businesses waited a block away until the SWAT team search the area, but some had to juggle schedules for their clients.
“We can’t get to work,” said Janet Grady who works in a local dental office. “So all our patients are coming and they can’t get in this morning so we have to turn them away and reschedule them.”
Visitors to the Orange Tree Hotel , were ready to take off after breakfast but when they got tot he street “the police closed it. We want to go to Long Beach,” said Willy Roemes from Germany.
The intersection reopened at 10 a.m.
This afternoon, a small crew was on the roof of the store and inside repairing a hole about 12 inches wide and 30 inches long.
Owner Jerry Payne did an inventory of the store during the day and this evening said no weapons were taken. He also said he has a motion detector alarm. When the intruder tried to break in, that set off the alarm and a special system that released smoke.
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