Burglars stole about 30 weapons from a Hammond gun range early Thursday, and federal officials are offering a $5,000 reward for the culprits.
"It was a smash-and-grab, a quick in-and-out," said David Coulson, a spokesman for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Colombus, Ohio.
A burglar alarm went off at Deb's Gun Range, 6800 Kennedy Drive in Hammond, at 4:15 a.m. Thursday, he said. By the time police arrived a short time later the burglars and weapons were gone.
An inventory found that 30 handguns, semi-automatic pistols and revolvers were missing, he said. Coulson did not know what the burglars left behind or if there was surveillance video.
He said he couldn't estimate the street value of the weapons. Originally, authorities thought 33 weapons were taken but downsized after a better count was made.
"Through experience, we know that stolen firearms are used in furtherance of drug and gang-drelated activities as well as are utilized by violent criminals to perpetrate additional crimes," ATF said in announcing the $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the gun thieves.
The gun range had not been burglarized before, Coulson said. Telephone calls to the gun range this morning were not answered.
Hammond police are assisting in the investigation.
Copyright 2011 - Chicago Tribune
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
