Firearms Industry Matches ATF Reward in California Firearms Theft Cases
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the theft of firearms in each of two separate cases in California.
The first theft occurred on August 14th from Turner’s Outdoorsman in Corona, CA. According to the BATFE, a total of 31 firearms were stolen from the armory during the burglary. The NSSF match of the ATF’s $5000 bounty is in addition to a $5500 reward being offered by the retailer. Several suspects wearing long sleeved clothing with baseball caps forced open the security door before taking twelve rifles and fleeing in an unknown vehicle.
The second incident, occurred on August 28th from a Torrance, CA, Turner’s Outdoorsman location. Suspects apparently made off with several handguns and rifles. Again, the NSSF reward matches $5000 rewards offered by both the ATF and the retailler.
Local law enforcement in both cases are working with the ATF to track down those responsible for the thefts. ATF Los Angeles Field Division SAC Steven J. Bogdalek says that, in light of firearm burglaries in recent weeks, “we are asking federal firearms licensees to re-examine their security options for safeguarding their stores.”
Steve Sanetti, president of the NSSF, said, “Our matching reward offer will hopefully help assist ATF and local law enforcement in solving this crime against a federally licensed firearms dealer and lead to the swift recovery of stolen firearms before they can enter the illegal underground black market where they can be misused to commit violent crimes.”
The matching reward payment by NSSF will be granted only following payment of the initial ATF reward, which is up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the crime.
Any information regarding this burglary should be reported to the ATF hotline at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). The ATF hotline is toll-free, and all information will be treated confidentially. Callers will remain anonymous upon request.
About NSSF
The National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 7,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.
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