Livermore's East Bay Firearms has become a repeated target for gun thieves, with the latest break-in marking the third burglary in just two years. In this most recent incident, owners Damon and his brother report a loss of around $40,000 worth of firearms, including 28 handguns and four long guns. According to CBS News San Francisco, a car was used to ram through the gun shop's front glass storefront last Saturday, leading to the substantial theft.
The burglars' brazen tactics, as captured in surveillance footage detailed by KTVU, involved using two vehicles, a white and a red car, with the latter being driven through the protective glass doors. Damon Butts expressed his exhaustion and frustration with the ongoing crime and the justice system's handling of previous culprits. "We personally feel terrible. These guns can be used in crimes. That's not our purpose for being in business," Butts told KTVU.
The Livermore Police Department and the ATF are investigating the burglary, although no arrests have been made at this time. The escalation of the burglaries at East Bay Firearms highlights a troubling trend of such stores becoming targets for criminals who possess the determination and resources to bypass heightened security measures. Reflecting on the mentality of thieves and the implications for community safety, Damon Butts told CBS News San Francisco, "Thieves are the worst type of people, and I want to see them brought to justice. If this can happen to us here, in what we believe is a very secure facility, it can happen to your business as well."
