MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) — A police chase involving suspects accused of stealing rifles and body armor from another law enforcement agency took place in Mt. Juliet Monday evening.

The Mt. Juliet Police Department (MJPD) posted on X — formerly known as Twitter — at 5:23 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 30 that officers were pursuing “heavily armed suspects.”

Officials said Mt. Juliet Guardian Shield alerted officers to a stolen car, which was also a suspect vehicle in the weapons theft from another Middle Tennessee community.

According to authorities, they tried to stop the suspects in Providence MarketPlace, but the car fled and led officers on a chase down S. Mt. Juliet Road to the Antioch area.

A witness told News 2 they were nearly hit by the getaway car on Mt. Juliet Road in front of Providence.

At 5:38 p.m., the MJPD announced the suspects evaded officers in the Antioch area off Hobson Pike, saying, “There is no longer an active pursuit.”

According to officials, an attempt to stop the car using spike strips was unsuccessful because the vehicle went off-road to avoid the spikes.

Once officers lost sight of the car on Hamilton Church Road, Mt. Juliet police said they notified the Metro Nashville Police Department since the vehicle was now in its jurisdiction.

Just a couple hours after the Mt. Juliet chase, the Smyrna Police Department announced it was searching for individuals who allegedly stole police equipment, including armor and firearms.

Smyrna police said three of their vehicles were targeted and burglarized at an officer’s home on Sunday, Oct. 29, adding that they are “working in tandem with multiple agencies to apprehend the suspects.”

No additional details have been released about Sunday’s theft or Monday’s pursuit.