$5K Reward Offered in Defiance Burglary

TOLEDO, Oh. - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation - the trade association for the firearms industry - are announcing a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for the burglary of J&J Firearms, located at 3229 Evansport Rd., Defiance, OH. ATF and NSSF are jointly offering a potential total reward of up to $5,000.

At approximately 5:00 a.m. on June 23, at least three individuals drove a stolen vehicle into the wall of J&J Firearms to gain entrance to the building. The thieves stole 15 handguns and three long-guns before fleeing in a different vehicle. The same individuals are suspected of burglarizing Cashland Pawn in Bryan, OH less than an hour before the J&J burglary.

This burglary is being investigated by ATF's Columbus Field Division jointly with the Defiance County Sheriff's Office.

Anyone having information about this incident should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477). Individuals may also email [email protected], or contact ATF through its website at www.atf.gov/contact/atf-tips. Tips may also be submitted to ATF using the ReportIt® app, available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, or by visiting www.reportit.com.

This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which NSSF matches ATF rewards in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed retailers. ATF works closely with the members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms. More information about ATF and its programs is available at www.atf.gov.