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130 Handguns Stolen in Vancouver, WA
12/7/2008 1:03:19 PM
Below is an article regarding a theft this week in Vancouver, WA...Many of the guns stolen were higher end (Kimber, Les Baer etc.)
––-Authorities are asking for help –– and offering a $5,000 reward –– to track down thieves who stole 130 guns from a Vancouver firearms dealer.
The guns were stolen Nov. 30 from Bright Water Ventures, 12200 N.E. 60th Way, a federally licensed firearms dealer, the Vancouver Police Department said. Thieves broke out the gun shop's front window shortly before 2 a.m., set off a burglar alarm, stole the guns, primarily handguns, and were gone when police arrived.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is involved in the investigation, working with a task force that includes federal authorities and local police. They're offering a $5,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction.
––-Authorities are asking for help –– and offering a $5,000 reward –– to track down thieves who stole 130 guns from a Vancouver firearms dealer.
The guns were stolen Nov. 30 from Bright Water Ventures, 12200 N.E. 60th Way, a federally licensed firearms dealer, the Vancouver Police Department said. Thieves broke out the gun shop's front window shortly before 2 a.m., set off a burglar alarm, stole the guns, primarily handguns, and were gone when police arrived.
The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is involved in the investigation, working with a task force that includes federal authorities and local police. They're offering a $5,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction.
12/8/2008 1:50:49 PM
If Mike is still the proprietor of this shop, he has my deepest sympathies. He's really a first rate guy.
12/8/2008 3:23:05 PM
Is there a published list of gun models or serial numbers stolen? I live in the south end of the state and don't want to end up with one. I'll admit, odds are they'll be sold elsewhere, but still...
12/8/2008 5:05:58 PM
A simple way to tell if a weapon is stolen BEFORE you purchase, is to call a small town PD and ask them to run the serial numbers. ( SE WA guys can call Washougal or Camas PD and they will run the number over the phone.)
If the seller WILL NOT provide the number before meeting, then they might have something to hide.
Mike is a great guy, and I purchased my first handgun from him YEARS ago and I still go in from time to time to see what he has.
If the seller WILL NOT provide the number before meeting, then they might have something to hide.
Mike is a great guy, and I purchased my first handgun from him YEARS ago and I still go in from time to time to see what he has.
12/8/2008 5:08:34 PM
Damn, that's a lot of guns.
12/12/2008 9:58:26 AM
UPDATE: This is from today's Columbian (Vancouver, WA
A 15-year-old boy arrested after he allegedly brought a handgun to his junior high school in Spanaway was the key to the recovery of more than a hundred firearms that were stolen from an Orchards-area gun shop, police say.
Three Vancouver residents also have been arrested after an investigation by the interagency Career Criminal Apprehension Team and federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The guns were stolen in a break-in at Brightwater Ventures, a licensed dealer at 12200 N.E. 60th Way, about 1:40 a.m. Nov. 30.
The four suspects allegedly planned to sell the guns, possibly to juveniles or gang members, said Special Agent Nick Starcevic with the ATF.
“When you steal approximately 130 guns, it’s not for recreation,” Starcevic said. “There’s obviously a plan to get rid of them. They don’t care who they sell it to. It’s all about the dollar.”
He added, “They would have been crime guns most likely, used in crimes somewhere. That could have affected the safety of our cities, in our communities.”
Arrested on suspicion of taking a gun to his school in Spanaway, near Tacoma, was Kyle Aguon, 15, said Clark County Deputy Juvenile Prosecutor Rick Olson.
Olson said he’ll prepare an arrest warrant today to bring the boy to Clark County to face charges of first-degree burglary and theft of firearms.
His brother, Christopher Aguon, 21, of Vancouver was taken to the Clark County Jail on suspicion of 126 counts of firearm theft, first-degree burglary, conspiracy to traffic in stolen firearms and resisting arrest, according to a bulletin from the Vancouver Police Department.
Another family member, 20-year-old Dominic Aguon of Vancouver, was jailed on suspicion of 126 counts of possessing stolen firearms and criminal conspiracy to traffic in stolen firearms.
Also arrested was Billy Garth Carver, 17, 3111 S.E. 146th Place, in Cascade Park, Olson said.
Carver appeared in Juvenile Court on Thursday morning and is being held on suspicion of possessing stolen firearms and unlawful possession of firearms by someone younger than 18, Olson said.
Detectives and agents learned Wednesday that the Spanaway boy had been arrested for bringing a gun to school, and that its serial number was in a police database as having been stolen in the Brightwater Ventures break-in, the bulletin said.
An investigation revealed that the boy had been visiting relatives during the Thanksgiving holiday, and that he allegedly committed the burglary with Christopher Aguon, the bulletin said.
Dominick Aguon and Carver allegedly possessed and stored the stolen guns.
‘Disaster’ averted
When investigators went to Carver’s home, they found 96 of the stolen guns hidden in the apartment’s garage; Carver was found hiding under garbage bags, Olson said.
Investigators then went to the Portland home of Carver’s grandmother and found more guns hidden there, the bulletin said.
“The homeowners were not involved at all,” said Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp. “There’s no indication they were aware these firearms were in their homes.”
Deputy Prosecutor Olson said officials are pleased that the guns were recovered.
“Obviously that would be a disaster to have that many guns accessible to other juveniles and adults,” Olson said.
“Normally you don’t get that lucky and recover that amount of guns in that short of a time,” Starcevic said.
Asked about the store’s security, since the suspects allegedly were able to break in through a window, Starcevic said some gun dealers have bars on their windows and doors, but it’s not required.
“It’s really up to the owner to decide what level of security to use,” Starcevic said.
A 15-year-old boy arrested after he allegedly brought a handgun to his junior high school in Spanaway was the key to the recovery of more than a hundred firearms that were stolen from an Orchards-area gun shop, police say.
Three Vancouver residents also have been arrested after an investigation by the interagency Career Criminal Apprehension Team and federal agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The guns were stolen in a break-in at Brightwater Ventures, a licensed dealer at 12200 N.E. 60th Way, about 1:40 a.m. Nov. 30.
The four suspects allegedly planned to sell the guns, possibly to juveniles or gang members, said Special Agent Nick Starcevic with the ATF.
“When you steal approximately 130 guns, it’s not for recreation,” Starcevic said. “There’s obviously a plan to get rid of them. They don’t care who they sell it to. It’s all about the dollar.”
He added, “They would have been crime guns most likely, used in crimes somewhere. That could have affected the safety of our cities, in our communities.”
Arrested on suspicion of taking a gun to his school in Spanaway, near Tacoma, was Kyle Aguon, 15, said Clark County Deputy Juvenile Prosecutor Rick Olson.
Olson said he’ll prepare an arrest warrant today to bring the boy to Clark County to face charges of first-degree burglary and theft of firearms.
His brother, Christopher Aguon, 21, of Vancouver was taken to the Clark County Jail on suspicion of 126 counts of firearm theft, first-degree burglary, conspiracy to traffic in stolen firearms and resisting arrest, according to a bulletin from the Vancouver Police Department.
Another family member, 20-year-old Dominic Aguon of Vancouver, was jailed on suspicion of 126 counts of possessing stolen firearms and criminal conspiracy to traffic in stolen firearms.
Also arrested was Billy Garth Carver, 17, 3111 S.E. 146th Place, in Cascade Park, Olson said.
Carver appeared in Juvenile Court on Thursday morning and is being held on suspicion of possessing stolen firearms and unlawful possession of firearms by someone younger than 18, Olson said.
Detectives and agents learned Wednesday that the Spanaway boy had been arrested for bringing a gun to school, and that its serial number was in a police database as having been stolen in the Brightwater Ventures break-in, the bulletin said.
An investigation revealed that the boy had been visiting relatives during the Thanksgiving holiday, and that he allegedly committed the burglary with Christopher Aguon, the bulletin said.
Dominick Aguon and Carver allegedly possessed and stored the stolen guns.
‘Disaster’ averted
When investigators went to Carver’s home, they found 96 of the stolen guns hidden in the apartment’s garage; Carver was found hiding under garbage bags, Olson said.
Investigators then went to the Portland home of Carver’s grandmother and found more guns hidden there, the bulletin said.
“The homeowners were not involved at all,” said Vancouver police spokeswoman Kim Kapp. “There’s no indication they were aware these firearms were in their homes.”
Deputy Prosecutor Olson said officials are pleased that the guns were recovered.
“Obviously that would be a disaster to have that many guns accessible to other juveniles and adults,” Olson said.
“Normally you don’t get that lucky and recover that amount of guns in that short of a time,” Starcevic said.
Asked about the store’s security, since the suspects allegedly were able to break in through a window, Starcevic said some gun dealers have bars on their windows and doors, but it’s not required.
“It’s really up to the owner to decide what level of security to use,” Starcevic said.
12/12/2008 10:14:40 AM
Nice work ATF! About time you guys earned your pay.
The article was good, right up to the last two sentences. Then you can see where it's going.
The article was good, right up to the last two sentences. Then you can see where it's going.
Asked about the store’s security, since the
suspects allegedly were able to break in through a window, Starcevic
said some gun dealers have bars on their windows and doors, but it’s
not required.
“It’s really up to the owner to decide what level of security to use,” Starcevic said.
“It’s really up to the owner to decide what level of security to use,” Starcevic said.
12/12/2008 3:17:16 PM
When i first heard about this the only way I thought they could have got in was through the roof, i thought his window was barred
12/13/2008 1:50:11 AM
SAW IT ON THE NEWS TONIGHT! LOOKS LIKE THEY"LL BE GETTING ALL BUT 3 BACK!!!
Hurray!
Hurray!
2/9/2009 4:23:27 PM
Good news!
How the hell does someone store 96 guns in your home without your knowledge? Some real good parentin'...
How the hell does someone store 96 guns in your home without your knowledge? Some real good parentin'...
2/9/2009 11:34:43 PM
Wow, now maybe ol' Mike will get those guns back before the end of the decade....maybe
