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3 airmen arrested in surplus store break-in

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — When owner Jeffrey Thompson found signs Sunday of a break-in at his military surplus store in Newport News, he decided to sleep at work with his gun nearby and catch the thieves red-handed.

Early Thursday morning, his long nights at the office paid off when Thompson confronted three burglars.

He was surprised to find out later that the men were members of Security Forces at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton.

Airman 1st Class Scotty Harold Light, 20, and Airman 1st Class John Jacob Solecki, 20, have each been charged with one count each of burglary, attempted grand larceny and conspiracy to commit burglary. Airman 1st Class Timothy Michael Wiggins, 20, has been charged with one count each of burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary.

Thompson, a Navy veteran, said he believes they broke in to steal equipment for Airsoft, a combat sport similar to Paintball in which participants eliminate opponents by hitting them with plastic BBs.

They have been charged with burglary and are being held at Newport News City Jail.

Thompson said he found signs of a break in at CQB Military Surplus on Sunday night when glass was broken in a rear door.

“I thought they might return and slept there with my pistol,” he said.

Just after 3 a.m. Thursday, Thompson heard breaking glass and woke to see a man standing in the store.

“I got my pistol and told him to go to the ground. He complied and laid flat,” Thompson said.

He found another man behind the counter and also ordered him to the ground. Then he saw a third man near the back of the store and gave the same instruction.

Thompson said he briefly mislaid his cell phone but soon found it and called the police. But the man behind the counter and the one at the back of the store managed to get away before the police arrived.

Police spokesman Lou Thurston said the man Thompson caught was Light.

Officers quickly found out the identity of the other two suspects, and they were arrested at a home in Newport News.

A spokesman from Langley Air Force Base said the “duty status” of all three airmen would be decided on a case-by-case basis after they are released from custody.