Two men broke into Green Top Sporting Goods store last night and stole 34 handguns, said the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office today.

Sheriff’s deputies responded within three minutes to a 12:30 a.m. alarm, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chris Whitley, but the suspects had escaped after smashing locked glass display cases at the front of the store and taking semi-automatic handguns in .357, .380, .4O, .44, .45 and .50 caliber.

“They appear to have targeted the more expensive handguns,” said Whitley.

The suspects gained entry by smashing the glass front door, possibly with a baseball bat, said Whitley, and then cutting the lock on a sliding metal barrier.

Surveillance photos at the store, located at 10193 Washington Highway near Virginia Center Commons, show two men in dark hooded clothing and gloves entering the store. Their faces are not visible in the photos.

“It is always of great concern to me when any of our local businesses are broken into, but this is particularly concerning as it involves a large quantity of weapons that are now illegally in the hands of criminals and not in the hands of law abiding citizens. However, I am fully confident in the efforts of all involved in this case, which coupled with the assistance of those in the community, will bring this incident to a successful conclusion,” said Colonel V. Stuart Cook, Sheriff.

Whitley said the number of weapons stolen was the largest quantity in his 13 years with the Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.

By this afternoon the store had reopened for business, with a worker repairing the broken display cases.

The Sheriff’s Office is encouraging anyone with information on this incident, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant, to report it immediately by calling the Sheriff’s Office at 365-6140 or the Metro Richmond Crime Stoppers at 780-1000.