ATF, Firearms Industry Offers Up to $10k Reward for Recent String of Federal Firearms Licensee Burglaries

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, announced a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for any of three burglaries at federal firearms licensees in Lakewood, Tumwater and Olympia, Wash, between May 15 and 26.

ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000, which will be matched by the NSSF for a total possible reward of up to $10,000, for information on any of the three burglaries.

The first burglary occurred Monday, May 15, about 1:33 a.m., at the AAA Loan & Gun Shop at 12831 Pacific Hwy SW in Lakewood, which borders Tacoma to the south. A witness reported seeing four suspects loading firearms into a vehicle, possibly a white Honda Accord or Hyundai, and then fleeing the scene. A second vehicle, a green Honda Accord that had been stolen in Lakewood, was used to break through a wall in the front of the business. Fourteen firearms were taken from the shop.

The following morning, Tuesday, May 16, at about 3:40 a.m., three suspects burglarized Tumwater Pawnbrokers at 6021 Capitol Blvd. SE, in Tumwater, which borders Olympia to the south. Tumwater is about 20 miles southwest of Lakewood. The suspects rammed the front door of the pawnshop with a dark-colored Honda CRV, took four rifles from a wall display and then smashed a glass display, taking some jewelry before fleeing in the CRV northbound on Capitol Blvd.

The third burglary occurred at I5 Guns & Ammo at 7914 Martin Way East, about 2:40 a.m. Friday, May 26. Four suspects rammed a stolen vehicle into the front of the store and stole 15 firearms. They then fled the scene in another vehicle, possibly a Honda. One of the suspects is believed to have dreadlocks.

Anyone with information about those responsible and/or information leading to the recovery of the stolen firearms should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS [ 1-888-ATF-TIPS] (888-283-8477 [ 888-283-8477] ), email ATFTips@atf.gov (link sends e-mail), or contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips may also be submitted to ATF using the ReportIt® app, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com (link is external). All calls and tips will be kept confidential.

This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which the NSSF matches ATF rewards in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed retailers. ATF works closely with the members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

ATF is the federal agency with jurisdiction over violations of federal firearms laws. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.