PLANO — Federal agents and Plano police announced a $10,000 reward to help them catch four people who staged a bold break-in and got away with almost 100 pistols and rifles.
"We've got all of our resources right now on this investigation trying to find those responsible," said ATF Senior Special Agent Russ Morrison.
The suspects drove a stolen pickup truck through the brick-and-glass storefront of Mister Guns in the 2700 block of West 15th Street around 4:00 a.m. Wednesday.
Surveillance cameras inside the store captured the incident, which lasted about two minutes.
The thieves didn't venture deep into the store. Instead, they just took pistols and rifles located up front. They even used hammers to break display cases. In all, the group stole 93 firearms.
"When you put this number of guns on the street, it is concerning to all of law enforcement," Morrison said.
On Thursday afternoon, workers stepped over shattered glass to board up the business.
"It creates a lot of difficulty on the business. As far as the guns being out on the street, it's upsetting to think someone might use something we had for something bad," said store owner Ro Carter.
He said Mister Guns is currently operating, and hopes to be cleaned up and back to normal by next week.
The truck used in the crime was stolen from an apartment complex on Plano Parkway, police said.
Investigators later found it abandoned a couple blocks from the crime scene.
Mister Guns is a federal firearms licensee (FFL). Stealing firearms from a FFL is a violation of federal law, Morrison said. It is also against federal law to possess stolen firearms.
Statewide, Morrison added, there are 7,400 federally-licensed firearms dealers. But last year, only 36 got broken into, he continued, stressing how rare these crimes are in Texas.
ATF agents and Plano police have serial numbers of each weapon.
Those responsible for the firearm thefts could face up to 10 years in a federal prison.
The $10,000 reward is split between the AFT and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Anyone with information about this crime should call North Texas Crime Stoppers at 1-877-373-8477 (1-877-373-TIPS). All calls are confidential.
