Malvern, Downingtown Men Stole Guns From Store Monday: Police

MALVERN, PA – Two men, one from Malvern and the other from Downingtown, were arrested and have charges pending against them for allegedly breaking into a Malvern gun store and stealing about 25 guns, according to police.

At about 5 a.m. Tuesday, May 15, Shane Wolf, 23, of Malvern, and Taylor Obrien, 21, of Downingtown, allegedly broke into Chester County Outdoors on Lancaster Avenue in Malvern and stole 20 to 25 guns, according to East Whiteland Police.

Court records show Wolf has been charged with two counts each of burglary, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, criminal trespassing, and criminal mischief, all of which are felonies. Wolf has also been charged with two counts of possession of an instrument of crime, according to court records.

While the alleged burglars were running from the scene after the store's alarm went off, a Malvern Borough Police officer responding to a separate incident saw the men running across Route 30, police said.

The officer chased them and caught one of the men at the General Warren Inn, but the other suspect fled on foot, police said.

After about five hours, police found captured the second suspect as he hid under a residential deck, police said.

Police said they are cross referencing the recovered guns and the store's inventory, as well as the guns' serial numbers to ensure all of the stolen firearms were recovered.

Police from Malvern, Tredyffrin, West Chester Emergency Response Team, Pennsylvania State Police, Amtrak Police, Chester County Detectives, and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office all aided in the search for the suspect, police said.

The burglary prompted schools in the area, including the Great Valley School District, to increase security measures until the suspects were caught.

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GVSD officials said after both suspects' apprehension that schools will operate as normal Tuesday.

Wolf was set to appear for his preliminary hearing at 4 p.m. Tuesday, court records show.

Court filings for Obrien have not yet been made available.

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