Springfield police recover 14 guns, drugs following Scheels burglary

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - A Springfield burglary investigation from over the weekend led to several arrests and uncovered 14 firearms, stolen merchandise and even drugs.

Springfield police said officers were called just before 10:30 p.m. April 5 to Scheels on MacArthur Blvd for a burglar alarm.

Police at the scene found that the suspects had run away before officers arrived, and found several firearms and other items stolen.

Around 11:15 p.m., police found a person, later identified as 20-year-old Romero Allen, who matched one of the suspect descriptions near 9th and Spruce. Allen ran from police and was eventually caught, with two firearms among several items on him that were recovered.

Allen was charged with burglary, theft, possession of a firearm with a FOID card, unlawful use of a weapon while masked, possession of a stolen firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and firearm ammunition, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon.

Police stated that detectives on the investigation eventually identified other potential suspects.

SPD arrested three underage boys April 6 connected to the robbery, and recovered five firearms during the arrests. Their exact ages are unknown.

Two of the boys were charged with the Scheels burglary, along with theft, possession of a stolen firearm, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, and unlawful possession of a firearm. Police said that the third was charged with only weapons-related offenses.

SPD later arrested 35-year-old Avery Sanders on a search warrant, and he was charged with armed habitual criminal, possession of a stolen firearm, manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and meth delivery.

Fourteen firearms, including all those stolen in the burglary, along with 151 grams of meth, around 91 grams of cocaine, stolen items and nearly $13,000 were uncovered during the investigation, according to Springfield police.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information can call SPD at 217-788-8311 or Crime Stoppers at 217-788-8427.