POWHATAN COUNTY, Va. -- Are stolen guns already in the wrong hands on city streets? It's likely, says the ATF. Tuesday night they asked for you to closely look at surveillance video to help them catch the thieves who stole guns in Powhatan County. One of the thieves wore a Spiderman mask while committing the crime.
Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms want you to notice how the thieves move and how they are dressed.
"Certain mannerisms, certain dress, certain actions,” said Scott Fulkerson, the ATF Resident Agent in Charge. “You can see it. We are looking for the public’s help.”
Thirty handguns were swiped from American Family Pawn and Guns on Anderson Highway early Monday morning, investigators said.
"These guns will end up in the hands of violent criminals,” said Fulkerson. “It's the reason why we are looking for the public assistance. We don't want them to end up in your community."
The ATF said what you can see being stolen in the video has most likely already gone to the black market.
"There's a concern for us that the guns are already on the street, which is why we want leads on who did this, to possibly stop a violent crime before it happens," Fulkerson said.
In 2013 more than 7,000 guns were recovered in Virginia. The 2014 and 2015 numbers aren't in, but agents said it's likely one of these weapons will be recovered, unfortunately most likely after a violent crime has been committed.
"They've been taken from legal guns to illegal and one can assume they will be used for violent purposes,” said Fulkerson.
The ATF and Powhatan deputies are working together on this case. If you recognize the suspects in the video, call 1-888-ATF-TIPS. There is currently a $6,000 reward.
