Part 2: 'Blow Torch Crew' steals hundreds of guns from stores across Carolinas

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Federal agents spoke to Channel 9 about the major criminal ring that they say stole hundreds of guns throughout the Carolinas and Georgia.

The ATF discussed how the Blow Torch Crew targeted shops, sold guns to criminals and the rush to find hundreds of weapons still on the streets.

[Part 1: 'Blow Torch Crew' steals hundreds of guns from stores across Carolinas]

Federal agents say the crucial arrest of Devonniare Coffey dismantled the Blow Torch Crew, which agents said burned its way into gun shops across three states, including the Gander Mountain in Charlotte.

“That's how we knew we had a crew doing multiple locations, because the Blow Torch Crew had shown up on seven incidents,” ATF agent Gerod King said.

Crew members tried to smash their way inside 13 other gun stores and conducted surveillance on businesses like Nichols Store in Rock Hill, according to federal agents.

“Triggering the doors and things, and running into the woods to check the response time for the sheriff's department,” Tina Nichols said.

Every place they hit was near a major highway or interstate, federal agents said.

“Exactly, look at the map and you can see most of these places are near major interstates or major highways, so they could gain easy access to and most importantly easy access from the location,” Gerod said.

The convicted felon acted as a sophisticated salesman who didn’t keep the stolen guns for very long.

“No, in this instance, what Coffey did was he presold the firearms after he committed these crimes,” Gerod said. “He was on his cellphone as he drove back to the Georgia-South Carolina line where he resided, and he was selling these firearms to criminals.”

More than 250 guns Coffey's crew took are still missing, Gerod said.

“We realize these guns will be used for subsequent crimes, and we have no idea who has them, where they will turn up and what they will be used for,” Gerod said.

Coffey is spending a decade in prison, and five others were indicted.

Agents said they connected a gun the crew stole to a homicide in Washington and that 86 other guns have been found in eight different states.

The ATF said they have open cases and are tracking other groups targeting gun shops across the area.

Cox Media Group