Burglars broke into a Lawrence home late Friday night, police said, and stole a number of shotguns, a black powder rifle and a Vietnam War-era hand grenade that could possibly explode.

But that might not even be what worries police the most.

Two burglars also stole a number of police badges that could be used to impersonate an officer, said Lawrence Police Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff.

Police are very concerned about the missing badges from the Marion County Sheriff's Office and the Southport and Whitestown police departments, he said.

But the hand grenade is definitely on their minds, too. Police aren't certain whether it's a "live" weapon and only an expert would know for sure. But if anyone encounters something like it, they shouldn't pick it up, Woodruff said.

"Contact local law enforcement and we'll contact explosives experts," he said Saturday. "They can determine if it's a device that needs to be rendered safe."

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Lawrence police responded about 11:30 p.m. Friday to the burglary at a home in the 4700 block of North Kenyon Drive.

It was the second burglary in a month at that house near 46th Street and Shadeland Avenue — the residence of a retired former Marion County sheriff's deputy, who also is a veteran. Woodruff decline to release the victim's name.

Two weeks ago, the same home was broken into and an AR-15 carbine was stolen, Woodruff said.

Woodruff said police believe the burglaries may be connected, even though they don't have direct evidence of that. A surveillance camera, which was installed after the first burglary, caught the suspects on video.

Police are looking for two men in the late teens or early 20s, who dressed in dark clothing, Woodruff said. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-8477.

Woodruff said he doesn't know where the guns were in the home. But he said it is important for gun owners to take precautions to ensure that their weapons don't fall into the wrong hands, such as keeping them in a secure, locked cabinet.

Woodruff also offered tips for residents on how to avoid being duped by someone posing as an officer.

He said all officers also have an identification card that bears their photo and the department where they serve. If a person is uncertain whether it is an officer stopping them, they can ask the officer to see the ID, too. If still unsure, they can contact that law enforcement agency and request that a uniformed officer come to their location.

Call IndyStar reporter Domenica Bongiovanni at (317) 444-7339. Follow her on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.

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