Burglars Make off With Guns, Valuables

Burglars got away with antique guns and other valuables during a suspected home break-in today in Murrieta, police said.

The burglary was reported at 4:13 p.m. Wednesday in the 40000 block of Via Espana, just off Hancock Avenue, Murrieta police Sgt. Matt Henry confirmed.

"The residents came home and discovered the rear sliding glass door was shattered," the sergeant told Patch. "It was forced entry."

The homeowner, Bob Kowell, said he immediately noticed the broken glass when he returned home at about 4 p.m. He'd left home at about 10 a.m., but failed to set the house alarm, he said.

"I was only going to be gone a few hours, but next time I will be setting it," Kowell said.

Aside from the broken window, everything seemed in place to Kowell until he saw the suspected burglars had rummaged through a bedroom upstairs. Several pieces of jewelry and guns were missing, he said.

He also noticed the handle was busted off his gun safe.

Five guns were unaccounted for, some of them 30 to 40 years old, Henry said. Old coins were also missing, and Henry warned the suspects may try to sell the items.

Police took fingerprints and gathered other evidence, but no suspect information was available as of Wednesday evening, according to Henry.

Neighbors were interviewed and one told police someone had come to her door about an hour earlier, but was gone by the time she made it to the door. She was not able to give a good description, Henry said.

The suspected burglary remained under investigation.

Anyone with information was asked to call the Murrieta Police Department at 951-696-3615.