Suspects steal 73 guns
By John Joyce
Published in News on October 1, 2014 1:46 PM
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This video capture shows thieves breaking into Calypso Wholesale on Saturday. More than 70 handguns and two rifles were taken from the business, and authorities are offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspects.
A $15,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to the arrest of the suspects responsible for a Saturday break-in at a local gun shop.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said 71 handguns and two rifles were stolen from a licensed gun dealer in Calypso.
The ATF, the Duplin County Sheriff's Office and the National Shooting Sports Foundation are putting up $5,000 each toward the criminals' capture.
Duplin County Sheriff Blake Wallace said the theft might be connected to a string of gun store robberies that have taken place across the state.
"I know of at least two, possibly three, that may be connected," he said.
He could not say offhand when or where those robberies took place. He did say the methods used by the thieves looked to be the same.
"The (modus operandi) is very similar," Wallace said.
He said investigators were still going over surveillance video Tuesday, but the suspects faces were covered.
"These people were well-versed. They were in the store a very short period of time to have gotten the number of weapons they did," he said.
The theft took place at the Calypso Wholesale, Federal Firearms Licensee, at 108 Fourth St., Calypso.
The ATF and Duplin County Sheriff's Office are investigating.
Wayne County Sheriff Larry Pierce said an attempt was made Sunday night to break into the Wild Indian gun store here in Wayne County, but the would-be thieves did not get in.
"I couldn't say if it was related or not, of course that's all the way across the county from Calypso," Pierce said.
Wallace indicated the attempted break-in could be connected, but said he could not say for sure.
Pierce said he has been in meetings the last two days and has not been contacted by any other agencies, neither the ATF nor Duplin County, about the stolen guns.
Wallace, however, said he had spoken to detectives with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office.
Sgt. Jeremy Sutton of the Goldsboro Police Department said GPD has not been notified about the Calypso break-in.
Anyone with information regarding the stolen firearms is asked to contact the ATF at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867). All calls will be kept confidential.