WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — The Warner Robins Police are updating the public on a Thursday afternoon search that temporarily closed Sherman and Lincoln Street.
In a Friday press conference, Warner Robins Police Chief Wayne Fisher says officers searched 102 Sherman Street and took five suspected gang members into custody.
He says the suspects have been charged with marijuana possession with the intent to distribute and violation of the Georgia Street Gang Terrorism Prevention Act.
Fisher says officers and the Warner Robins SWAT team recovered nearly 3 pounds of marijuana, 23 hydrocodone pills, and three firearms, two of which were reported as stolen.
The two guns are among the 97 total firearms seized by the department this year, he says.
"Crime is up in the city of Warner Robins," Fisher said. "Firearms stolen as reported in the city of Warner Robins has been 109. The real fact about that number is it is preventable."
Fisher's advice for preventing that theft? Not leaving firearms in your vehicles, which accounted for 71 of those 109 stolen firearm reports.
Jeff Sohler, the owner of Sohler Firearms in Warner Robins, said he agrees with Fisher's advice.
"As far as keeping it in your car, that's not that's not a responsible thing to do," Sohler said. "There's a lot of safety precautions that can be taken inside the house, such as safes, lock boxes, things like that. Whereas in a car, you really don't have that adaptability."
He has also received reports of stolen guns sold from his shop.
"I have gotten a few phone calls doing gun traces from the National Tracing Center," Sohler said. "Receiving the reports can be anything from a gun being stolen to a gun being recovered coming from the National tracing Center and the FBI.
Fisher is advising people to continue using Crimestoppers and is telling people to keep their eyes and ears open for the safety of the community.
"My message to all," Fisher said. "We need to work in one voice, one unity with each other to solve these problems."