Lakeland teens arrested after trying to break into gun shop

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Two teens were arrested after they tried to break into a gun store.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, a 14 and 17-year-old smashed a window at Guns Galore early Monday morning.

Surveillance video shows the teens hitting the window with a framing hammer around 1:50 a.m. and then running away as soon as the security alarm went off.

Deputies said both are students at Kathleen High School. The youngest suspect already has a criminal history.

"Previous arrests include burglary, criminal mischief, and probation violations, so he was actually on probation at the time," said Sherrie Morgan, a spokesperson for the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

The teens did not steal anything, according to investigators, but the fact that they targeted a gun store is unsettling for many of the people who shop nearby.

"It's a major letdown because in this area there's a code of respect and everyone respects each other," said Jean-C Butler.

The teens face several charges, including attempted burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.

The youngest suspect faces an additional charge for violating his probation.

"We want to know what they were doing out at that time of morning," said Morgan. "We want to know why the parents didn't know where their kids were."