UPDATE: Robbers Bound Madison Gun Shop Owner with Duct Tape
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UPDATE: Robbers Bound Madison Gun Shop Owner with Duct Tape
A gun shop owner reports being bound by suspected robbers Saturday afternoon. UPDATE:Two men indicted.
Reporter: Dana Brueck
Email Address: dbrueck@nbc15.com
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UPDATED Wednesday, June 30, 2010 --- 6:46 p.m.

Press Release from the Department of Justice:

Darren Richardson, 20, Chicago, and Daniel Barlow, 22, Madison, Wis., are charged in a superseding indictment with stealing firearms and transporting a stolen firearm in interstate commerce. Barlow is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. Barlow was originally charged with these crimes in an indictment returned by the grand jury on June 9, 2010. Barlow was arraigned on June 15. His trial is scheduled for September 20 before U.S. District Judge Barbara B. Crabb.

The indictment alleges that Richardson and Barlow stole 20 firearms from Grampa’s Gun Shop on Williamson Street, Madison, on March 13, 2010. The indictment alleges that they stole 16 handguns, a shotgun, and three rifles. Barlow is charged with transporting one of the stolen handguns from Wisconsin to Minnesota between March 13 and April 4, 2010, and Richardson is charged with transporting three of the stolen handguns from Wisconsin to Illinois between March 13 and May 21, 2010.

If convicted, Richardson and Barlow face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison on each count. The charges against them are the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

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UPDATED Monday, March 15, 2010 -- 5:00 p.m.

"I was more fearful for my life afterward than during. During I didn't have time to be fearful for my life."

His story - only on NBC15.

A Madison gun shop owner, bound with duct tape, talks about what worries him most about a robbery Saturday afternoon.

Police call it a brazen crime. Two men bust into a local gun shop in a busy neighborhood, bind the owner and take off with dozens of guns.

"I'm not open for people who just want to look around."

Larry Gleasman knows guns. He also knows how to run a thriving shop.

"Oh, it's a gun shop.. Let's go look around... No, I don't have time for that right now."

The 70-year-old has owned Grampa's Gun Shop for decades -- without a problem.

Around 2:45 Saturday afternoon, the small Willie Street store became a target itself.

"I was more fearful for my life afterward than during. During I didn't have time to be fearful for my life. Afterward, I thought the guy could've cut my throat just as easy as not."

Larry says when he went to answer the side door bell, two men pushed their way inside his place.

"Bam, knocked me on the floor, jumped on me... dragged me into the bathroom, tied me up with duct tape."

He says the two men emptied a case of handguns, taking off with more than 30 guns in all.

"These were a couple of 20-year-old gang bangers. They didn't know squat about guns. They just grabbed all of the handguns they could get their hands on and went out the door."

Police say it's likely these stolen guns will end being sold on the street, but Larry says the handguns were more for showing than for shooting.

"Probably more than 75 percent are worthless guns. They're old guns chambered for ... weird old rounds, 32 rimfire, you can't even buy 32 rimfire anymore."

Larry puts the value of the stolen goods at more than $10,000.

But what worries him most - what could happen with these weapons in the hands of criminals.

"Some of those guns will be sold to some gang banger .. in Chicago and they might shoot somebody."

Larry's now looking into surveillance cameras, and the incident's also causing him to think more about retirement.

"I'll be a little more careful when I open the door."

Gleasman believes a getaway vehicle may have been parked in the driveway after he answered the door.

Anyone with information about the robbery should call Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.

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UPDATED Monday, March 15, 2010 --- 12:00 p.m.

Incident report from the Madison Police Department:

Madison Police were called to Grampa's Gun Shop, 1374 Williamson Street, Saturday afternoon after two robbers made off with 34 weapons: 30 handguns, 3 rifles, 1 shotgun.

The 70-year-old business owner said criminals pushed their way in a backdoor. One bound his hands and legs, while the other filled a bag with firearms. Following the robbery, the victim was able to free his hands and call 911.

He believes another male, and possibly a female were outside during the heist, and may have been with a getaway car.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 266-6014.

Suspects:
Male, black, 23-29 years old, 5'11" to 6'.
Male, black, 23 years old, 5'9" to 5'11".

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POSTED Saturday, March 13, 2010 -- 6:30 p.m.

A gun shop worker reports being tied up by suspected robbers Saturday afternoon.

Madison Police want to know who's behind a robbery at local gun shop and exactly what was taken.

It all happened around 2:45 Saturday afternoon at Grampa's Gun Shop in the 13-hundred block of Williamson Street.

Police say the man at the store freed himself after being tied up.

They're unsure exactly how much was taken from the store but know several weapons were stolen.

A friend of the victim, who also works as a bookkeeper for the store, says she can't believe it happened to him.

"He has been here for 30-some years. He's honest. He does not sell guns to felons and stuff. He's very committed to this neighborhood, and it just makes me angry that someone would do this," Donna Covey says.

Police are gathering evidence and do not have a suspect description at this time, but they say two or three people are involved.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Lilly Location: Madison on Jul 1, 2010 at 10:39 AM

We have all heard this one,"Guns don't kill people.People WITH guns kill people." I don't like guns, I choose not to own one. If you look at the studies most folks end up shooting themselves or a family member: accidentally or in a domestic situation. There is NO GOOD GUN. They are MENT to KILL living things. The other death on willy st.(the teen girl) that gun was stolen from under a counter from a business on that street and was fired accidentally. NO matter because she is dead. If that gun hadn't been there she would still be here. I find no excuse for owning a firearm, unless your in the military or a cop and your JOB is to kill people, or it's how you feed yourself. I am not high, I know there bad people out there. I don't have the answers. I do know what it's like to have a gun stuck in your face and the trigger cocked....It changes you and it changes ones feelings about citizens carrying guns. It's harder to adopt a cat from the shelter than to buy a gun.....That's CRAZY!
Posted by: CC fan on Mar 17, 2010 at 11:12 AM

Randomly Anonymous, I like that attitude! Better to be judged by 12 than to be carried by 6. To the post about it being legal to openly carry, that's a fool's game. It sounds all rough and tough, but in practice you're gonna have cops cuffing you in no time 'cause some innocent is going to be afraid of the gun. And why would you tell a crook you're the one to be taken out first by having an open gun? It may not scare them at all - it will only telegraph the fact that you're someone to be taken down first. Don't give up the element of surprise by carrying in the open. Do it concealed, where it's respectful of people who are scared of guns and where you won't be singled out as a target from the start.
Posted by: k Location: willy strret on Mar 16, 2010 at 11:32 PM

Each and every person here has posted a very interesting point of view on this matter. But the one that tags me the most is march 16 6:51 pm I challenge you walk up to any Madison police officer (be nice) and ask them would they arrest you if you had a open un-concealed pistol in a holster on your side in public in the city of Madison and guess what they will tell you. You go to jail....(do not pass go) Get a clue. And to the comments on "packing" yes people do it, is it safe? Are they? Well that may be up to their doctor in some cases...maybe yours lol (humor: laugh now) I think i would rather have a back-round check on them.
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