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Jacksonville woman pleads guilty to stealing guns from 3 stores

A Jacksonville woman is facing up to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to stealing guns from three local stores over the summer.

Bruquanna Griffin’s profile picture on Facebook shows her posing with a large gun.

“She came and snuck in behind [the counter], opened her purse and started putting the pistols in her purse,” said Green Acres Sporting Goods salesman Phillip Gazaleh.

Gazaleh said employees locked the door so she couldn’t escape before police got there.

“She was like, ‘I’m not taking nothing. I just wanted to take a look at the guns.’ Which was obviously a blatant lie. She had the guns in her purse,” Gazaleh said.

Griffin has been booked into Duval County jail eight times since 2015 -- mostly theft charges, including one at Beauty Depot in 2016 when police say she got kids involved.

The JSO report said Griffin walked into Beauty Depot in Edgewood with three kids and had them help her steal shoes.

The report said they ran out into the parking lot where a getaway truck was waiting.

Police said Griffin tried to drive off without the kids, and eventually told at least one child to get in the pickup truck bed.

“There has to be a certain point where you put an end to it. You can’t be a habitual thief and keep getting out of jail, or keep getting away scot-free. At a certain point, you have to be held accountable for your actions,” Gazaleh said.