Firearm thefts....

[bobm]

Smash and grab gun thefts are on the rise in my area. Several gun shops both large and small have been robbed by multiple culprits at once. Just last week a Cabelas store was attacked the same way with lost firearms. I did not think a large retailer would be hit. Feds say 200-300 guns in the wrong hands in the last 10 months.

The battering ram of choice is the easily stolen mid to late 80's Jeep Cherokee. Jewelry stores have suffered similar losses the same way. This is not good.

 

[biggen0_8]

When the owner of my LGS built his new shop, he put about a 10" concrete step about 8' out in front of the building.

I guess they may jump over it, but they'll have to leave in a different vehicle.

 

[DRNewcomb]

There was one of these thefts in my local area last year. Police caught the crooks and recovered most of the stolen guns. Most shops that stock more than a few guns, now have bollards protecting the obvious points of attack.

 

[carlsbad]

bollards

 

[johnfred1965]

They have bollards around the drive thru at the local Wendy's. Woman in a Kia knocked one down.

Most of the Gun shops I have been in, and even our local Cabelas, everyone behind the counter has a firearm. Isn't anyone getting off a shot?

 

[carlsbad]

They have bollards around the drive thru at the local Wendy's. Woman in a Kia knocked one down.

Placebos. A well designed bollard would not yield to a kia.

 

[Blackthorn]

Smash and grab gun thefts are on the rise in my area. Several gun shops both large and small have been robbed by multiple culprits at once. Just last week a Cabelas store was attacked the same way with lost firearms. I did not think a large retailer would be hit. Feds say 200-300 guns in the wrong hands in the last 10 months.

The battering ram of choice is the easily stolen mid to late 80's Jeep Cherokee. Jewelry stores have suffered similar losses the same way. This is not good.

I shop at the Cabelas that was robbed quite often.. I understand the how the smash and grab happens in a small LGS but Cabelas firearms department is towards and in the rear corner of the store. How they smashed in, ran in grabbed guns, and made it out of the parking lot and on to the main drag before the police arrived is beyond me. Especially with the way that Cabelas is set up there is only one road in and out for access... ??????????

Bollards kept the thieves out of a LGS close to my house. They tried but failed.

 

[johnfred1965]

Placebos. A well designed bollard would not yield to a kia.

I know what you mean. Many years ago, my brother worked in a shop in a bad neighborhood. At least once a month some drunk drove over their front gate. The owner paid my brother and another shop wages to dig a hole and replace it. Posts were 8" with 1/2 sidewalls. crossdrilled with 1/2 rebar and set 4 feet in the ground with concrete. Less that a week later they came in on Monday to find a car wrapped around it, but the post didn't budge!

 

[Forum Boss]

A few months ago in Southern California, a team of thieves hot-wired the tractor unit of a large Semi-trailer truck and drove it into a gun store after-hours, completely demolishing the doors and metal-barred windows. They escaped with quite a few guns, but thankfully for the owner most of the firearms inventory was in a very large walk-in vault that the thieves never opened. The building now has steel-reinforced blocks in front.

 

[dickn52]

I thought gun stores were REQUIRED to secure their inventory prior to closing. Are you saying this is happening while the stores are open?

 

[joshb]

I shop at the Cabelas that was robbed quite often.. I understand the how the smash and grab happens in a small LGS but Cabelas firearms department is towards and in the rear corner of the store. How they smashed in, ran in grabbed guns, and made it out of the parking lot and on to the main drag before the police arrived is beyond me. Especially with the way that Cabelas is set up there is only one road in and out for access... ??????????

Bollards kept the thieves out of a LGS close to my house. They tried but failed.

One or two of the robbers usually have a gun trained on the employees. It happens fast. No "employee" making $12 an hour is gonna draw to protect the insured inventory with a gun pointed at him.

 

[Blackthorn]

One or two of the robbers usually have a gun trained on the employees. It happens fast. No "employee" making $12 an hour is gonna draw to protect the insured inventory with a gun pointed at him.

They have been doing it here when the shops are closed. Usually 1 or 2am.... The local PD know it is a gang that specializes in this type of robbery but have yet to make any arrests.... I'm sure Cabelas has rules about robberies and would refrain from engaging. The LGS guys on the other hand wouldn't hesitate smoke checking your a** in a robbery.... Most of the shops I go to are family owned and operated....

 

[JRS]

I thought gun stores were REQUIRED to secure their inventory prior to closing. Are you saying this is happening while the stores are open?

I doubt all are required to. Look at the number of states that don't require a gun shop to be licensed, or maintain liability insurance. In many states, gun stores don't have to report thefts.

 

[DRNewcomb]

They have bollards around the drive thru at the local Wendy's. Woman in a Kia knocked one down.

There are bollards that are designed to fold over and bollards that are designed to withstand.

 

[DRNewcomb]

I doubt all are required to. Look at the number of states that don't require a gun shop to be licensed, or maintain liability insurance. In many states, gun stores don't have to report thefts.

Any FFL has to report thefts of guns to the BATFE.

 

[JRS]

Any FFL has to report thefts of guns to the BATFE.

"In many states"

Any FFL has to report thefts of guns to the BATFE.

Yes, to ATF, not necessarily to local or state LE.

 

[dickn52]

IF they are insured and don't lock them up at night, good luck on filing a claim.

 

[spaniel]

My LGS moves all inventory into safes at the end of every shift. It must be a royal pain...

 

[Aero]

I shop at the Cabelas that was robbed quite often.. I understand the how the smash and grab happens in a small LGS but Cabelas firearms department is towards and in the rear corner of the store. How they smashed in, ran in grabbed guns, and made it out of the parking lot and on to the main drag before the police arrived is beyond me. Especially with the way that Cabelas is set up there is only one road in and out for access... ??????????

Bollards kept the thieves out of a LGS close to my house. They tried but failed.

This is the first thing I thought of, the responce time to an alarm in Lone Tree must be pretty slow!

As an FFL, I've been getting regular email alerts and recorded phone messages from ATF everytime one of these happens. Rumor from several sources, a couple fairly reliable, is that there is a shortage of guns south of the border and the people that want them have lots of money to spend, especially since they decided growing poppies might be more profitable than weed.

-Eron

 

[Blackthorn]

This is the first thing I thought of, the responce time to an alarm in Lone Tree must be pretty slow!

As an FFL, I've been getting regular email alerts and recorded phone messages from ATF everytime one of these happens. Rumor from several sources, a couple fairly reliable, is that there is a shortage of guns south of the border and the people that want them have lots of money to spend, especially since they decided growing poppies might be more profitable than weed.

-Eron

With the amount of taxes Lone Tree collects from Cabelas with their special tax you'd think the Lone Tree PD would camp out there. Since you are Parker, CO based as am I you understand the complexities of getting out their parking lot. Which really makes me wonder about Lone Tree..
I know they have hit a few of the LGS up North too with the same MO...