AZMEX EXTRA 24-5-12

AZMEX EXTRA 24 MAY 2012

Note: Could never get ATF to discuss these gun shop thefts in AZ.
Have to wonder how many of the Mexico "traces" were on stolen
firearms. Probably take congressional action to get that info.

Burglars setting sights on gun stores in area
By Daniel Borunda \ El Paso Times
Posted: 05/24/2012 01:33:35 AM MDT
Reporter
Daniel Borunda

Burglars have been hitting gun stores in early morning burglaries in
El Paso and Las Cruces.
The latest break-in occurred Saturday, when two men wearing hooded
sweatshirts stole firearms from a military surplus store in Las
Cruces. The case is the third such burglary, including one
unsuccessful attempt, this month in the El Paso-Las Cruces area.
About 2 a.m. Saturday, two men broke into Strykers Command Bunker at
415 S. Valley in Las Cruces, police said. Police said the burglars
took several firearms and might have left in a black two-door sports
car.
The number and types of firearms stolen in each burglary were not
disclosed. No arrests have been made.
El Paso police spokesman Officer Javier Sambrano said burglars on May
7 struck two gun shops in West El Paso in cases that detectives think
are linked.
At 1:40 a.m., a rock was used to break a window at Country Wide
Shooters, but, because of security bars, the thieves were unable to
enter the shop at 3950 Doniphan, police said. Because there was no
entry, the incident was labeled criminal mischief, Sambrano said.
Seventeen minutes later, a hunting supply store three miles away was
burglarized.
At 1:57 a.m., burglars broke a glass front door, entered and stole
several firearms from Sportsman's Elite, 7500 N. Mesa, police said.
"Detectives do believe they probably were trying to do a burglary (at
Country Wide Shooters) due to the time of occurrence, its similarity
to the other (burglary) and the location," Sambrano
said.
Investigations are trying to determine whether the burglaries in both
cities are linked. Las Cruces Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000
reward for information that leads to an arrest and solves the firearm
burglary. Tipsters may call Las Cruces Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Anyone with information on the El Paso burglaries may call El Paso
police at 832-4400 or Crime Stoppers of El Paso at 566-8477.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@el