A Marin County man has been arrested on allegations he stole 73 weapons from a Placer County gun store.
The crime occurred during a period of about three hours early on July 22. Authorities allege that Tyrone Brennen, 39, of San Rafael used a power tool to cut his way into Foothill Firearms in Newcastle and load the guns into duffel bags.
Brennan left the store and got into a vehicle driven by Loren Ray Bingham, 41, of Vallejo, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
The evidence that helped identify the suspects included video footage from a nearby business. Investigators executed warrants on Aug. 6, arresting 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 residence: Richard Edward Nosenzo, 57, of Vallejo. Detectives found evidence allegedly linking him to the burglary.
The Placer County Sheriff’s Office said all three suspects are convicted felons and that Brennen “has a long history of committing commercial burglaries throughout the state by cutting holes in the sides of businesses.”
Bingham is a gang member who had outstanding arrest warrants for drug and weapons cases in Solano County, the department said in a statement about the arrests.
“He has prior felony convictions for possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of stolen property, and vehicle theft,” it said.
Nosenzo, the department said, “has a 1995 felony conviction for escape from jail, three felony convictions for vehicle theft, possession/passing of false checks, grand theft of a firearm, burglary, and possession of stolen property.”
Brennen was arraigned in Roseville on Thursday on a 20-count complaint that included charges of burglary, grand theft and being a felon in possession of firearms. He pleaded not guilty.
Brennen is being held without a bail amount. His defense attorney could not be reached for comment Monday.
Bingham and Nosenzo have been arraigned on similar charges and have pleaded not guilty.
A preliminary examination, the proceeding at which a judge determines whether there is sufficient evidence to justify a trial, is scheduled for Aug. 19.
The agencies participating in the investigation included the San Rafael Police Department, the Novato Police Department, Central Marin Police Authority and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
