Wildlife Officer’s Gun Stolen from Unlocked Truck

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office is looking for help identifying an auto burglar its deputies say swiped a gun from an unlocked truck early Wednesday morning.

According to the agency, the burglar entered a green Ford Ranger parked in a driveway on Running Deer Lane around 3:30 a.m. Once inside the unlocked vehicle, the thief swiped a Walther PPK .380 handgun from the center console.

The Ranger was parked next to a fully marked Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission truck in the driveway, the sheriff’s office noted on its Facebook page. The victim is a wildlife officer. The vehicle broken into was the officer's personal truck. The victim's name has not been released.

Deputies are asking anyone with information about the theft to contact them at 1-800-706-2488. Tips may also be submitted on the www.PascoSheriff.com website.

To view of video of the crime in progress, visit the sheriff's office on Facebook.

Image courtesy of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office