SWAT has fully auto weapons stolen from their van

[Beachmaster]

When I was in the military, if we transported any weapons, we were required to leave at least one person with the vehicle to guard them. You would think SWAT would take the same care, especially when they had fully automatic weapons in their van.


http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local/article/0,2845,MCA_25340_5501442,00.html


Memphis police were looking Monday night for the thieves who stole seven weapons from a North Carolina SWAT team van parked in South Memphis.

Members of the SWAT team based in Raleigh, N.C., were eating at Interstate Bar-B-Que, 2265 S. Third, about 3:30 p.m. Monday when they realized their van had been broken into, said Lt. Jerry Gwyn of Memphis felony response.


Taken were three machine guns, two semi-automatic handguns, and two 12-gauge shot guns, Gwyn said.

The officers, who were traveling from Raleigh to Little Rock for training, noticed two thieves driving away in a burgundy Ford Expedition, Gwyn said. A video surveillance camera also caught the thieves in action.

"We’re concerned with getting these guns off the street," Gwyn said. "We have a lot of folks working on it right now."

The theft was reminiscent of a heist in 1997, when thieves stole a Little Rock FBI team’s Suburban. Inside the SUV were grenade launchers, M-16 rifles, submachine guns and other potent weapons, which were found after an intense three-day search.

 

[NM234]

Just one of the reasons I turned against gun control some 7 years or so now (when I was 14 or 15). Criminals will always find ways to get their hands on guns. I heard somewhere a couple months ago someone in England snuck up on a cop on the street and assualted him, either seriously injuring or killing him and taking his gun.

This is just another example of criminals stealing cops guns. Also there are cops that are involved in crime and could be bribed to steal guns for criminals.

 

[offthepaper]

Is it just me........................or are an awful lot of LEO's having a hard time holding onto their weapons? Were ANY precautions taken,like (as stated) leaving someone to guard the weapons, like parking where the van could be seen while eating, perhaps an alarm system would be helpful considering the cargo rolleyes: ), how well were they secured inside of the van (locked cases maybe) or were they simply piled in the van?
If the anti's want to sue the gunshops that sell guns that end up being used in a crime, where would the responsibility fall if these FA's are involved in a crime?
There just does'nt seem to be a lot of accountability from these type situations. I have never once heard of a LEO being fired for such incidents, but I've heard of others being held responsible for similar acts.
OK, I've vented.

 

[El Tejon]

I certainly hope those thieves submitted to the necessary background checks before taking possession of these weapons. Of course, with concurrent registration it will be an easy matter to get those guns back.

Glad to know that the police are so responsible with firearms while we mere serfs are not to be trusted.

 

[pharmer]

They'll catch 'em. Gov't is mighty pissed they got 3 ClassIII's without the $200 stamp/each. Joe

 

[Blakenzy]

(Sarcasm on)

You see!! The anti's are right. Only highly trained police officers should bear arms... if you are a common citizen, criminals will just take away your "gun" and use it against you!

Hmm, wait a minute, these were highly trained SWAT guys. What's up with that, huh??

 

[BobMcG]

At least for this team, they give a new meaning to S.W.A.T...

Squad Without Auto Toys

 

[NickHTK]

Up here in Canada a police department managed to lose about 50 Glocks. Never made the news....

 

[JamisJockey]

When I still lived in Utah some yahoo (can't remember if he was local or Fed) poleece had his "Sniper" rifle stolen. The media made it sound so bad as if the rifle would go on a killing spree all by itself.....thing was it was nothing more than an accurized Remington.....

 

[walking arsenal]

Our sheriffs dept here certainly doesn't fool around with it. Their trucks have safe drawers built into the backs of them. Nothing out without the keys.

 

[Popov]

Thanks, I needed that one!

 

[ilbob]

Is it just me........................or are an awful lot of LEO's having a hard time holding onto their weapons?

I suspect this kind of thing has been happening as long as cops have had guns (which is not all that long). I think we hear about these things because it is much harder to cover up things like this these days.

If the anti's want to sue the gunships that sell guns that end up being used in a crime, where would the responsibility fall if these FA's are involved in a crime?

The criminals that commit the crimes are the ones responsible. Don't let the rhetoric about safe storage of firearms fool you any.

There just does'nt seem to be a lot of accountability from these type situations. I have never once heard of a LEO being fired for such incidents, but I've heard of others being held responsible for similar acts.

I would bet they get some kind of slap on the wrist when they get back home. Beyond that, unless they were blatantly irresponsible or in violation of some department policy, they are just the victims of a crime. Its not fair to blame the victims of a crime for what the criminals did.

 

[whitetiger7654]

"Our sheriffs dept here certainly doesn't fool around with it. Their trucks have safe drawers built into the backs of them. Nothing out without the keys."

Hopefully, they keep the keys with them. Or do they do like my school and lock up the microscopes then with a big note next to them write "MICROSCOPE KEYS IN HERE." I kid you not.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

"Alright, who forgot to lock their door?"

They are the only ones professional enough, that I know of, to handle FA weapons.
Maybe getting a $1000 gun given to you makes you more complacent about security than a gun you shelled out $15,000 of your own money for. "If ya lose this one, we won't give ya another"

 

[joesolo]

yep, from my fair city. I'm in the same county (Shelby). Nothing is safe in Memphis.

 

[Man With A Gun]

The FBI lost a vehicle, the guns in the trunk, tactical radios, flak vests, badges, jackets, cuffs, and some of their new pistols.

Beat that!

Around Atlanta we have some seedy looking FBI agents doing raids etc. If it were not so serious it would be a scream!

BUSH and his crew make me feel so safe and warm.

 

[offthepaper]

BUSH and his crew make me feel so safe and warm.

--------------------------------------------
Huh?
That's out there.

 

[Wire]

It's a pleasant evening, my windows are open to catch the breeze, the air is soft.

I'm safe in Memphis.

 

[Frog48]

Lets not forget that only cops can be trusted with guns.

 

[Steve in PA]

Having a vehicle, locker or even a house broken into isn't "loosing the weapons".

 

[Seminole]

The officers, who were traveling from Raleigh to Little Rock for training,

Hopefully their training will now include a unit on securing their weapons.

 

[fletcher]

Good old Raleigh


These are the individuals we should "trust" more than civilians with automatic weapons?

 

[Seminole]

Local news is now reporting that police have recovered one of the weapons in an apartment in North Memphis. If they have one, my guess is they'll soon have the others.

 

[KMKeller]

Dang!! I know the guys on Raleigh's SWAT team. There's gonna be a lot of ribbing at the PPC match on May 19th!

 

[foghornl]

Been a long time since I was in that part of Memphis, but (IIRC) that is well...a fairly rough area. "Orange Mound" is the name of that area, unless I am mistaken.

Orange Mound is approximately equal to Harlem, Watts, South Chicago, Houston, TX "5th Ward", Hough area of Cleveland.