Cedar Rapids police, ATF investigate theft at gun store

CEDAR RAPIDS - The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) has joined Cedar Rapids police and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) in investigating a firearms theft from a Cedar Rapids gun dealer.

The theft was reported at America's Second Amendment Firearms, a federally licensed gun retailer at 737 First Ave. SW, where two unknown suspects forced entry into the business early Saturday morning, police said.

'The biggest concern is now we have firearms taken by a criminal act, and now they're likely to be used in a future criminal act,” said public safety spokesperson Greg Buelow. 'This is a serious concern to both local and federal law enforcement.”

The ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000, which will be matched by the NSSF for a total possible reward of $10,000, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

'The hope is if anybody has any information of individual or individuals trying to off-load some guns or selling them-or they hear through the grapevine someone acquired guns over the weekend-that this tip will be a motivator to call in,” Buelow said. 'There's an extensive program in place that you have to go through the proper steps to get a firearm. Those laws are in place to make sure that those who can legally and responsibly obtain a firearm do so.”

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (800-283-4867), email ATFTips@atf.gov, contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips or text 63975 using the code ATFKC.

Tips can also be submitted using the Reportit® app, available from both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com. Tipsters can remain anonymous.