Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced a reward today of up to $10,000 for information related to the arrest of those responsible for the burglary of a federal firearms licensee  in Santa Monica.

Around 8 p.m., May 31, a group of unidentified suspects burglarized the store Big 5 Sporting Goods, at 3121 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, California. The unidentified suspects used a crowbar and a sledgehammer to break the windows and utilized bolt cutters to cut the metal roll down gate. They opened the emergency exit door of the business to gain entry to the business. Once inside, the suspects stole 29 firearms from the business. The suspects who used the sledgehammer and bolt cutters were riding in a white BMW four-door sedan.

ATF Los Angeles is offering up to a $5,000 reward, along with up to a $5,000 reward from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the burglary of Big 5 Sporting Goods.

This total reward of $10,000 is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the ATF and NSSF in which NSSF matches ATF’s reward in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. NSSF is the trade association for the firearms industry. ATF works closely with members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

Anyone with any information about this crime should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477), by visiting www.reportit.com or through the mobile “reportit” app, available both on Google Play and the Apple App Store. All calls will be kept confidential.  

When reporting information, include as many details as possible, and contact information if seeking a reward. Information eligible for reward must lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the robbery.

This investigation is being conducted jointly by the ATF Los Angeles Field Division and Santa Monica Police Department

ATF is a bureau within the Department of Justice whose mission is to prevent, interrupt and remove violent gun crime from American communities. The Los Angeles Field Division works with local, state and federal law enforcement and public safety organizations to combat violent gun crime in Southern California and the Yuma, Arizona area. 

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