Police said Brice Hall, left, Gabriella Rivera, and Jamal Jones were arrested during a vehicle stop in Dover on Thursday night. (Submitted photos/Dover Police Department)

DOVER — In less than four hours Thursday, city police said they located three firearms and drugs during two separate vehicle stops, and also investigated a residential burglary where a weapon was stolen.

A Dover Police Department spokesman called the firearms issues troubling, but noted the positive result of taking weapons off the street.

“Obviously having three cases involving the discovery or theft of firearms is of concern for the department,” Master Cpl. Mark Hoffman said. “However, we have proven that our proactive enforcement measures have helped remove several guns from the streets as well.”

Anthony Turpin

The sequence began with a reported break-in at a unit block home on Ann Avenue, which occurred sometime between 10:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m, the Dover Police Department said. A handgun reportedly was taken from the home, along with a 48-inch LG television.

The stolen gun was a legally owned .380 caliber Bersa, police said.

Police said a burglar or burglars entered the residence by removing a window screen.

Following that, a 25-year-old Smyrna man was arrested at approximately 6:40 p.m. after a concealed 9mm Glock handgun and 3 grams of marijuana allegedly were found in a vehicle he was driving, police said.

Anthony Turpin, of the unit block of Van Buren Court, initially was stopped for a traffic violation in the area of North DuPont Highway and Rustic Lane, police said.

During the stop, according to authorities, K9 Britt detected the presence of narcotics in the vehicle, which brought a search.

Mr. Turpin was taken into custody without incident and issued a civil violation for marijuana possession and charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon. He was released on $2,500 unsecured bond after being arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 7 in Dover.

At roughly 8:07 p.m., three arrests were made and two guns found when Dover Police and Delaware Probation and Parole officers made a traffic stop in the area of Greenhill Avenue and White Oak Road, according to authorities.

Officers conducted a vehicle search, police said, allegedly discovering a loaded 9 mm handgun, a .22 caliber revolver and .22 caliber ammunition concealed inside. Also found were 17 Oxycodone pills, according to authorities.

Brice Hall, 15, was charged with possession of firearm/ammunition by person prohibited (four counts), carrying a concealed deadly weapon (two counts), second-degree conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation. He was held at Stevenson House Detention Center on $16,000 secured bond.

Jamal Jones, 16, was charged with possession of firearm/ammunition by person prohibited (four counts), carrying a concealed deadly weapon (two counts), second-degree conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, violation of probation, criminal impersonation, second-degree forgery and traffic violation. He was committed to Stevenson House on $17,200 secured bond.

Gabriella Rivera, 24, was charged with carrying a concealed deadly weapon (two counts), second-degree conspiracy, and possession of a controlled substance. She was released on $6,500 secured bond.

Dover Police asked anyone with information on the burglary to call 736-7111. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips also can be submitted to law enforcement through tip lines maintained by Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333, at www.tipsubmit.com or through Dover Police’s MyPD mobile app.