A Marin County man has been arrested on suspicion of stealing 73 guns from a gun store in Placer County.
The crime occurred about three hours early in the morning on July 22. Authorities allege that Tyrone Brennen, 39, of San Rafael, used a power tool to gain entry to Foothill Firearms in Newcastle and loaded the guns into duffel bags.
According to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, Brennan left the store and got into a vehicle driven by Loren Ray Bingham, 41, of Vallejo.
Evidence that helped identify the suspects included video footage from a nearby store. Investigators executed warrants on Aug. 6 and arrested Brennan in San Rafael and Bingham in Vallejo. The suspects had weapons stolen from the store, authorities said.
Investigators also arrested another suspect at Bingham’s apartment: Richard Edward Nosenzo, 57, of Vallejo. Detectives found evidence allegedly linking him to the break-in.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said all three suspects are convicted felons and that Brennen “has a long history of commercial burglaries throughout the state by cutting holes in the side walls of businesses.”
Bingham is a gang member with outstanding arrest warrants in Solano County for drug and weapons offenses, authorities said in a statement about the arrests.
“He has previous convictions for possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of stolen property and auto theft,” it said.
Nosenzo, according to the agency, “was convicted of escaping from prison in 1995 and has three previous convictions for auto theft, possession/issuance of false checks, grand theft of a weapon, burglary and possession of stolen property.”
Brennen was arraigned in Roseville on Thursday on 20 charges, including burglary, grand theft and illegal possession of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty.
Brennen is being held without bail. His defense attorney could not be reached for comment Monday.
Bingham and Nosenzo were tried on similar charges and pleaded not guilty.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 19. At this hearing, a judge will decide whether there is sufficient evidence for a trial.
Agencies involved in the investigation included the San Rafael Police Department, the Novato Police Department, the Central Marin Police Authority and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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