This week the gun shop I visit most frequently was in the news (see also here and here):
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) says the surveillance video above shows thieves using a stolen vehicle to smash-in the door of the West Coast Armory gun shop in Bellevue early Tuesday morning — the day after Christmas — to make off with approximately 70 firearms.
The ATF and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms industry — announced a reward Friday for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the December 26th burglary. The ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000, matched by the NSSF for a possible reward of up to $10,000. To be eligible for the reward, you must contact The ATF at:
- 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477)
- Email ATFTips@atf.gov
- atf.gov/contact/atf-tips
- Tips may also be submitted to ATF using the ReportIt App, or at reportit.com. All calls and tips will be kept confidential.
- Online tips can also be given to Bellevue Police by CLICKING HERE.
I visited the range (connected to, but has a door between them) the following night. The gun shop was still closed and the door had this sign on it:
You can see bits of broken materials at the bottom of the door and I could see people sweeping inside. I don’t know when it will be open for business again.
One of the first things that went through my mind was, “I wonder if they complied with the Washington State mandatory background check law?” Probably not. That law is just for suckers who think the government would never abuse that data to create a gun registration database for eventual confiscation.
Similar “smash and grab” happened in Florida. The gun bigots blamed the store for not being more secure. They did not blame the thieves for being thieves. They lamented “more guns on the streets” because the store wasn’t secure enough. Oh, in that instance they drove a stolen truck through a concrete block wall.
When are the thieves going to break in and steal nothing but bound books?
Then what?
That was done at the local range/store some years ago. They have since installed some concrete filled pipes in front of the doors to make the thieves job more difficult. This is located next door to the police dept. Only one cop inside the copshop at midnite, and he isn’t allowed to leave the building. IIRC, the patrol cars had been decoyed to the opposite side of town. Donut shop break in, or similar. They got away clean.
The vehicle smash attack mode is well-enough established that even I know about it. WCA needs some bollards last week. I know of another shop that keeps someone on premises 24/7. Still others that pull inventory back to a safe at end-of-day.
This is the M/O of the Red Cobras asian street gang. If it was them, they covered their guys inside with armed lookout(s) outside. Good chance those lookouts would have been in one of their signature super-tuner buzzbombs. Those are loud and low.