Reward doubles in gun thefts

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A $5,000 reward has been doubled for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the theft of guns from the Angler Bait & Tackle shop in Helmer.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation announced Wednesday it will match the reward offered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is working with the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department.

In all, 24 firearms were taken from the shop at 7430 S. Indiana 327, southeast of Big Long Lake.

“Through experience, we know that stolen firearms are used in furtherance of drug- and gang-related activities and are utilized by violent criminals to perpetrate additional crimes,” said Robin Shoemaker, special agent in charge of the ATF’s Columbus, Ohio, Field Division.

Anyone with information is asked to call the toll-free ATF gun crime hotline at 800-283-4867 or the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department at 260-668-1000.