Deputies in two counties are scrambling to track down the thieves who stole tactical weapons, body armor and bullets right out of a patrol car.
The car was unmarked, but the sheriff said the thief had to realize that he was stealing from a law enforcement officer.
The obvious clues didn't stop the thief and that worries the sheriff.
This is not the kind of gear you can get anywhere else.
Deputies said the items stolen were a .45-caliber Glock Duty handgun, H and K MP5 duty weapon, a tactical SWAT vest, body armor, a tactical light for the handgun, approximately 15 to 20 boxes of 9 mm and .45-caliber rounds, magazine pouch with two fully loaded magazines and a belt with holster.
“Offenders have weapons that we use in our day to day job," Lincoln County Sheriff David Carpenter said.
The vest clearly has the word sheriff on it. The two items together are enough make you believe the person in possession of them is an officer.
The car was unmarked, but the sheriff said the thief had to realize that he was stealing from a law enforcement officer.
The obvious clues didn't stop the thief and that worries the sheriff.
This is not the kind of gear you can get anywhere else.
Deputies said the items stolen were a .45-caliber Glock Duty handgun, H and K MP5 duty weapon, a tactical SWAT vest, body armor, a tactical light for the handgun, approximately 15 to 20 boxes of 9 mm and .45-caliber rounds, magazine pouch with two fully loaded magazines and a belt with holster.
“Offenders have weapons that we use in our day to day job," Lincoln County Sheriff David Carpenter said.
The vest clearly has the word sheriff on it. The two items together are enough make you believe the person in possession of them is an officer.
The sheriff’s biggest concern is that they are not used to hurt anyone.
They were taken from Sgt. Robert Jeffries while he was away on a weekend trip.
It is not uncommon for emergency response team members to keep these items in the car.
Investigators say someone broke into the unmarked car while it was parked at his home in Catawba County.
The computer mounted in the car should have told the thief that the car belonged to a law enforcement officer.
They were taken from Sgt. Robert Jeffries while he was away on a weekend trip.
It is not uncommon for emergency response team members to keep these items in the car.
Investigators say someone broke into the unmarked car while it was parked at his home in Catawba County.
The computer mounted in the car should have told the thief that the car belonged to a law enforcement officer.
"They continued to do what they did," Carpenter said.
The thief popped the trunk and got the SWAT gear, then went into the officer's home.
There the thief got more police gear and some electronics.
The sheriff worries someone targeted the officer.
"It makes us worry who we are dealing with," the sheriff said.
Anyone with information about the break-in or the weapons is asked to contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at 828-464-3112, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050 or the Lincoln County Communications Center at 704-735-8202. Anyone with information can also call Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909, and if your tips leads to an arrest or recovery of the firearms and gear you could receive a reward of up to $1,000.
The thief popped the trunk and got the SWAT gear, then went into the officer's home.
There the thief got more police gear and some electronics.
The sheriff worries someone targeted the officer.
"It makes us worry who we are dealing with," the sheriff said.
Anyone with information about the break-in or the weapons is asked to contact the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office at 828-464-3112, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 704-732-9050 or the Lincoln County Communications Center at 704-735-8202. Anyone with information can also call Crime Stoppers at 704-736-8909, and if your tips leads to an arrest or recovery of the firearms and gear you could receive a reward of up to $1,000.
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