Reward Offered In Firearms Theft Case In South Windsor

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Boston Field Division and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, have announced a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person or persons responsible for the theft of 50 firearms from R + L Carriers in South Windsor. ATF Special Agents and Industry Operations Investigators are working with detectives from the South Windsor Police Department on the investigation, ATF Boston public information officer Matthew O’Shaughnessy said.

On Friday, Aug. 13 at 12:50 a.m., a shipment of 50 firearms was delivered to R + L Carriers on Sullivan Avenue. The pallet was scanned by a manager and loaded into a "trap trailer" or waiting compartment. The pallet was discovered missing on Aug. 16, O’Shaughnessy said.

"A person who uses criminal means to obtain a firearm is someone who needs to be brought to justice and firearms obtained illegally are almost certainly destined to be used for criminal purposes," ATF Boston Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson said. "It is ATF’s top priority to make sure our communities stay safe and that businesses can operate without fear of incidents like this occurring. We are asking that members of the public who may know something about this incident or the whereabouts of these firearms to come forward."

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. 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, O'Shaugnessy said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact investigators immediately at 860-935-8080 or call 888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477) or send an email to ATFTips@atf.gov. Tips can also be sent anonymously via the reportit® app using ATF Boston Field Division as the location. It is available through the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, and at www.reportit.com.

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