Detectives are searching for a 5ft. by 2ft. safe that was stolen from a home that contained 35 guns.
The theft happened November 4 at a home along Adams Road in Auburndale. The crime happened between 6:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. when no one was home.
Adriana Shadrick said her husband, Jack, loves guns and that is why he had so many.
"He's had weapons that he (has) collected since he was 17, 18 years old," Shadrick said.
Shadrick said her husband is not only a gun collector, but an instructor. The safe that was stolen contained a variety of weapons like semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and handguns. There were 35 guns inside the safe, valued at about $20,000. Shadrick said the thieves broke into the home through a back window.
"I think he was more in shock because it wasn't just they stole a weapon, it's because they took all of them," Shadrick said.
Shadrick said the safe weighed more than 300 pounds. The guns were not loaded and there wasn't any ammunition in the safe.
"I'd like to think it really was just random and they got lucky," Shadrick said.
Auburndale detectives are looking at similar crimes that happened in Polk County with multiple suspects breaking into homes during the day stealing safes and jewelry.
Sgt. Kevin Spell said the getaway car is parked up front and they believe the cases may be linked. Sgt. Kevin Spell said he is concerned about what could happen to these guns in the wrong hands.
"We want to get the guns back in the right hands of the owner," Sgt. Spell said.
Sgt. Spell said they are looking for a Lincoln with a beige top.
They are also looking at a second car captured on surveillance video that may be connected to the Auburndale case. The second car may be a white Toyota Echo or Chevrolet Malibu.
If you have any information about the case, call the Auburndale Police or the Heartland Crime Stoppers.
"We are hoping that with the amount of weapons and they all had serial numbers (that) something will turn up somewhere," Shadrick said.
