ATF, Firearms Industry Offer Reward in Mega Pawn Burglary

 ATLANTA – The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, have announced a combined reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the burglary and theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee in Hinesville. 

“We take this crime very seriously,” said Atlanta Field Division Special Agent in Charge Arthur Peralta. “Firearms trafficking is a serious offense that results in significant federal prison time for the person or persons responsible.”

Mega Pawn of Hinesville, located at 1008 W Oglethorpe Highway in Hinesville, was burglarized twice in the same week – Jan. 31 and Feb. 4.  In total, 23 firearms were stolen and there are no definitive leads to date. The Jan. 31 burglary was a single suspect and the Feb. 4 burglary was three suspects. The suspects were all wearing hooded sweatshirts, facemasks and gloves. 

The 23 stolen firearms pose a potential danger to citizens and communities. ATF is soliciting the public’s assistance with any information that leads to those responsible for these crime.

Anyone with information about this crime should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477), email [email protected], or through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips. Tips can be submitted anonymously using the Reportit® app or by visiting www.reportit.com.

ATF is offering a reward of up to $5,000, which will be matched by the NSSF for a total reward of up to $10,000. This 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 in violent crimes involving firearms and regulation of the firearms industry. More information on ATF can be found at www.atf.gov.