HARRISBURG, Pa. --
A man is behind bars for allegedly stealing a shotgun from an unlocked police van.
Police said Dylan Baer, 21, stole the gun shortly after being released for retail theft.
He opened the door of a parked police van that should have been locked, police said.
The gun case in the vehicle contained a loaded 12-gauge shotgun.
"It could have been a very bad situation not only for citizens, but for police officers in the immediate area," Harrisburg Police Chief Pierre Ritter said.
Baer was later captured and the shotgun recovered.
This is not the first police gun that's been stolen in Harrisburg.
In August, Harrisburg police officer Jenny Jenkins had her gun stolen from her car.
That gun is still missing.
Copyright 2011 by WGAL.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
