It took mere hours for police to make an arrest following the theft of crossbows and a rifle yesterday in Chatham.
Police say about 4 a.m., someone broke into a garage on Park Avenue East in Chatham and made off with $4,500 in hunting equipment, including four crossbows and a semi-automatic .22 rifle, stolen from a locked gun cabinet.
According to police, two men tried to trade the rifle for drugs at a residence on Raleigh Street.
About 10:30 a.m., officers flooded the Richmond and Lacroix streets area after police received a report of two men carrying weapons. The search came up empty.
But through investigation, police identified the people they believe were responsible for the theft and made their arrests.
In connection with this incident, an 18-year-old man and a 17-year-old youth, both from Chatham, face multiple weapon-related charges, as well as failing to comply with release conditions, possession of stolen property obtained by crime, and break and enter. Included in the release conditions was the stipulation both not possess firearms.
