NEWARK, Del. – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, have announced a combined reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible for the theft of 35 firearms from a federal firearms licensee in Newark. ATF Special Agents from the Wilmington Field Office are working with Delaware State Police Troop 2 on this investigation.
At approximately 1:35 a.m. on Sunday, a group of five suspects broke into American Sportsman, located in the 2600 block of Capitol Trail. They stole 35 firearms, including both handguns and long guns, as well as firearm accessories like magazines.
The suspects are described as black males in their early 20s-early 30s, all with slim builds except for one heavy-set suspect who also has a thick beard. One of the slim suspects wears glasses. Photos are attached to this release with images of the suspects.
“Recovering these firearms as quickly as possible before any additional crimes are committed is a top priority,” said ATF Baltimore Special Agent in Charge Timothy Jones. “We will continue to work closely with our partners in the Delaware State Police and ask anyone in the community who may know something to please come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators immediately. To provide tips to ATF, call 888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477) or send an email to [email protected]. To provide tips to Delaware State Police Troop 2, call 302-834-2620.
Tips can also be sent anonymously via the reportit® app using ATF Baltimore Field Division as the location. It is available through the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and at www.reportit.com.
ATF is offering a reward of up to $2,500, which will be matched by the NSSF for a total reward of up to $5,000. This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which NSSF matches ATF rewards in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers.
ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes, and regulates the firearm industry. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.
Source: ATF
