Authorities are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to arrests after a group of individuals committed a burglary at a Norwood pawn shop, stealing several guns. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) jointly provide the reward, as reported by WLWT. Last Saturday morning, suspects crashed a stolen vehicle into Ted's Pawn Shop, located at 2026 Delaware Avenue, and took an undisclosed number of firearms.
The crime, which unfolded around 4 a.m., prompted an urgent call from the pawn shop's alarm company to its vice president, Gabe Tincher. Captured by security cameras, suspects are seen smashing into display cases and making off with guns in tow. Tincher, expressing his distress, said, "They got a few handguns and one long gun," according to a FOX19 interview. Remarking on similar local incidents, he highlighted a concerning trend of burglaries targeting gun stores and pawn shops.
In response to the burglary, the ATF's Columbus Field Division and the Norwood Police Department have commenced a joint investigation. The ATF solicits tips through their hotline at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477) or by email at [email protected]. Information can also be reported through their website or the ReportIt app and website. Insights into the theft at Ted's Pawn Shop are particularly sought after, with video evidence showing someone backing their car into the building before three individuals in black hoodies rush in, as detailed by a WCPO report.
Tincher has taken steps to mitigate such incidents, noting that he locks up 95% of the store's guns at night and has installed steel gates and concrete barriers to fortify the shop. Describing the audacity of the perpetrators, Tincher revealed, "The stolen vehicle that they had was just the right size to fit through the space that was allowed on each side of the concrete barriers," adding that he believes the crimes are committed mainly by teenagers. In a statement echoed by his concern, he urged for more effective consequences for such offenses, demanding, "It’s time for law-abiding citizens to demand that there’s some real repercussions for your actions," as he told FOX19.
