Authorities are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information on the theft of 29 guns from a Santa Monica sporting goods store during a day of civil unrest.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Monday announced a reward of up to $10,000 for information on a group of people who stole firearms from a Big 5 Sports Goods on Wilshire Boulevard at about 8 p.m. on May 31. ATF Los Angeles is offering up to a $5,000 reward, along with up to a $5,000 reward from the National Shooting Sports Foundation, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the burglary.
Authorities said the suspects used a crowbar and a sledgehammer to break the store’s windows and used bolt cutters to cut the metal roll-down gate. They entered the Big 5 through its emergency exit door and left in a white BMW four-door sedan.
Anyone with any information about the burglary should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477) or by visiting www.reportit.com. The investigation is being conducted jointly by the ATF Los Angeles Field Division and Santa Monica Police Department.
The Big 5 burglary is one of dozens that occurred May 31 as groups of people came to Santa Monica to loot businesses during a protest against police violence.
SMPD arrested more than 400 protesters and looters May 31 and continues to search for looters who escaped. The department announced Monday afternoon that peaceful protesters who had been arrested would not be prosecuted.
SMPD Chief of Police Cynthia Renaud called in the National Guard shortly after noon May 31, but they did not arrive in the city until 9 p.m. because they were guarding Los Angeles City Hall. The National Guard was stationed in the city from May 31 through this past Sunday, when personnel left Los Angeles County.
Residents and business owners have criticized the police department’s approach to the unrest, saying officers wasted time confronting peaceful protesters rather than stopping the looters. More than 55,000 people have signed a petition asking for Renaud to be fired.
City Council member Sue Himmelrich has asked the City Council to approve an independent review of the Santa Monica Police Department’s response to the events of May 31.
