$5,000 reward offered for information on Big R burglary

DENVER — The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the firearms industry, have announced a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects responsible for burglarizing Big R, located at 14155 E. Hwy 24, in unincorporated El Paso County, Colorado.

At 6:11 a.m. on January 27, an unknown male forced entry into Big R. The suspect used an axe maul to smash the locked gun case and stole 13 handguns.

The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, 5’9”- 6’ tall with a thin build, wearing a black ski mask, black coat, black gloves, a black and white checkered belt and black boots. The suspect arrived and left in a newer late-model dark, possibly black, Chevrolet pick-up truck.

Anyone with any information about this crime should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-GUNS. Information can also be sent to ATFTips@atf.gov (link sends e-mail), through ATF’s website at www.atf.gov/contact/atftips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit® app, available from both Google Play and the Apple App store, or by visiting www.reportit.com (link is external).”

The reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which NSSF matches ATF rewards in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. ATF works closely with members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

ATF is the lead federal law enforcement agency with jurisdiction involving firearms and violent crimes, and regulates the firearm industry. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.