Reward offered after 45 guns stolen

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - After 45 firearms were stolen from an Indianapolis gun shop, police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, are offering a $5,000 reward.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officials said the theft happened at Family Indoor Shooting Range, 30 S. Post Road, on Sunday.

"Having investigated similar cases in the past, we know stolen firearms are used in furtherance of drug- and gang-related activities and are utilized by violent criminals to perpetrate additional crimes," said Robin Shoemaker, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Columbus Field Division.

“We want to get the guns off streets if they fall into the wrong hands it can spell disaster,” said Mike Hewitt, spokesman for IMPD.

According to workers at Pops the suspects were captured on their surveillance video; however, the gun shop is not releasing the footage. Investigators are trying to determine if the suspects swiped the guns to sell them on the streets or to place them in a stockpile.

Anyone with information about the thefts can call the ATF crime gun hotline, 800-ATF-GUNS, or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.