A brazen hotel parking lot heist near the Colorado Springs Airport has law enforcement scrambling to track down roughly 138 missing firearms and offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can help. The guns, a mix of handguns, rifles, and other dealer inventory, were inside a trailer headed to a gun show when thieves hit in the early morning hours of March 27. One suspect is in custody, but officials say nearly all of the weapons are still out there and could soon wind up in illegal markets if they are not recovered.
ATF, police and industry put up reward
According to KKTV, the ATF’s Denver Field Division says 138 firearms worth more than $100,000 were stolen from a trailer parked outside the Hampton Inn by Hilton Colorado Springs-Airport on March 27. The ATF, the Colorado Springs Police Department, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation are jointly offering up to $5,000 for information that leads to the recovery of the guns or the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Arrest and evidence gathered
Colorado Springs police arrested 42-year-old Eric Vasquez on April 1, but Lt. Bradley Pratt told The Gazette that "nearly all" of the 138 firearms remain missing. Detectives say they followed a U-Haul tied to the case, pulled automated license-plate-reader footage, and executed search warrants as they worked to piece together how the trailer was hit and where the guns may have gone.
Stolen dealer inventory is a national problem
ATF data shows that in recent years, federal firearms licensees across the country have reported thousands of guns missing or stolen. The agency’s FFL theft and loss report recorded more than 17,000 firearms reported lost or stolen in 2022, a volume investigators say makes quick recovery critical when a large shipment disappears. Prosecutors and police warn that stolen dealer inventory can quickly fuel violent crime and illegal gun markets if the weapons are not pulled out of circulation, which is why they are pushing hard for tips in this case.
How to submit a tip
Anyone with information is urged to call the ATF tipline at 1-888-283-8477 or the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000. KKTV reports that tips can also be emailed to [email protected] or submitted through the ATF’s online portal. Those who want to stay anonymous can use third-party reporting tools such as Reportit.
Charges and next steps
Court filings show the suspect faces a single count of theft from $100,000 to $1 million and is expected to appear for arraignment in July, according to The Gazette. Jail records indicate he remains in custody on other warrants and bonds while investigators continue trying to track down the missing firearms.
