Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, announced a reward today for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for a burglary that occurred Sept. 23 at First Stop Gun & Coin, a federal firearms licensee in Rapid City.

The Rapid City Police Department and ATF are investigating the burglary that occurred shortly before 3 a.m. last Wednesday. Surveillance footage captured three individuals break into the establishment at 701 Main Street. Investigators believe the suspects stole between 25 to 40 firearms from the premises.

Twenty-one of the stolen firearms have been recovered and a juvenile is in custody, but investigators need the help of the public to recover the remaining firearms and identify others responsible for the burglary.

“Firearms theft is a very serious crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Terry Henderson, of the St. Paul Field Division. “Once firearms are stolen, they are often used in violent crimes soon after. We highly encourage anyone with information to come forward as soon as possible to prevent these firearms from being used in a crime of violence in our communities.”

ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000, which will be matched by the NSSF for a total reward of up to $10,000. Information eligible for reward must lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the burglary or aid in the recovery of the stolen firearms.

The increased reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative in which NSSF matches an ATF reward in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. ATF works closely with members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

Anyone with information about the people responsible and/or information leading to the recovery of the stolen firearms should contact Rapid City Police Detective Jim Ingalls at (605) 394-4134. To report information anonymously, text letters “RCPD” and the pertinent information to 847-411.

ATF is a bureau within the Department of Justice whose mission is to prevent, interrupt and remove violent gun crime from American communities. The Saint Paul Field Division works with local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety organizations to combat violent gun crime in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. 

The following image is a still-frame of surveillance footage captured during the break-in at First Stop Gun & Coin, Sept. 23.