The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) is on the hunt for robbery suspects who have broken into multiple gun stores and stolen weapons and ammunition, according to a press release.
The ATF is coordinating with both local and state law enforcement agencies to find the thieves behind the robberies.
“When we realized that it wasn’t just a one-time situation, that the group of four individuals had burglarized the first location and attempted several others, we immediately notified state and local law enforcement around the area,” said Sara Abel, the public information officer with ATF.
According to the bureau, a group of four stole from the Shoot Smart located at 10305 North Freeway Service Road in Fort Worth not once but twice in two days.
The group broke through a window and took nine guns in their first attempt Sunday morning, then succeeded in pilfering several magazines and boxes of ammunition on their second try less than 24 hours later.
Half an hour later, at 6242 Rufe Snow Dr. #216 in North Richland Hills, the group broke into Elliot White Gun Co. and stole two guns, an unknown amount of ammunition, and additional items, the ATF said.
The ATF said that the same group went on an attempted burglary spree on Wednesday, trying to break into businesses in Richland Hills, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Grapevine, and North Richland Hills.
An employee for Texas Gun Experience in Grapevine says the ATF had put their staff on alert for the group.
“On our federal firearms licensing side, we call them FFLs; that’s the gun dealers themselves. We did have a coordination where we had several agents calling these businesses to let them know to be diligent and to watch out for their surroundings,” said Abel.
When the thieves attempted to break in Wednesday night, they couldn’t get past the thick glass.
The group has stolen 11 firearms so far, according to Abel.
Detectives say the distinct masks worn by the thieves and the dark-colored pickup truck and dark-colored sedan they drove could help law enforcement officers track them down.      Â
