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A total of 18 stolen semi-automatic handguns were seized by Celina police officers on Monday.
CELINA - Four Celina High School students were arrested at the school on Monday afternoon in connection to a Sunday night burglary in which 17 semi-automatic handguns were reportedly stolen from a Wapakoneta gun store.
The students were taken into custody without incident and may face charges in both Auglaize and Mercer counties, according to Celina Police Chief Tom Wale. Three of the students were taken to juvenile detention, he added. All 17 semi-automatic handguns stolen from Black Iron Armory were recovered as well as one previously stolen from a car in Celina, Wale said.
The handguns taken from the store were mostly 9mm, according to Wale.
"We believe they stole them to resell them," Wale said. "I'm not aware that they targeted anything specifically. That's just probably the most popular caliber. It looks to me like they probably just cleaned out a case or two."
Wale said the Wapakoneta Police Department on Monday morning relayed a tip it had received by phone to the Celina Police Department.
Over the course of multiple interviews, Celina police identified the Celina High School students allegedly involved in the burglary and executed searches of area residences connected to the students, Wale said.
All of the guns stolen from Black Iron Armory were recovered. Also, a gun stolen Saturday night in Celina from an unknown victim was found in an outdoor area, according to Wale.
None of the students' parents or guardians or any other adult are facing charges at this time, though the investigation is ongoing, according to Wale.
He said he is unsure how the students allegedly gained access to Black Iron Armory on Sunday night, referring the question to Wapakoneta police.
Celina police on Monday were assisted by a Wapakoneta police officer and a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent. The agent investigated the burglary and the inventory at Black Iron Armory before traveling to Celina in the afternoon to assist with interviews, Wale said.
Wale said the arrest of the students was a direct result of the phone tip. Celina police's initial investigation was carried out swiftly from about 10:30 a.m to shortly before 5 p.m., a fact Wale attributed to excellent police work.
Celina City Schools Interim Superintendent Brenda Boeke had no comment when asked about the incident before a school board meeting on Monday evening.
Anyone missing a firearm or with information on the incident should contact the police department at 419-586-2345 and ask for police Detective A.J. Poppe, Wale said.
