Dallas PD Swat Weapons Stolen

[carlson1]

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Weapons, police equipment stolen from SWAT supervisor's vehicle in Old East Dallas

12:00 AM CDT on Friday, October 30, 2009

By SCOTT GOLDSTEIN / The Dallas Morning News
sgoldstein@dallasnews.com

Dallas police are investigating the burglary of a SWAT supervisor's vehicle from which thousands of dollars in weapons, ammunition, police uniforms and other equipment was taken, according to a police report.

The burglary of Sgt. Vincent Lee's unmarked sport utility vehicle was reported early Thursday in the 2700 block of North Fitzhugh Avenue near North Central Expressway, the report said.

Among the items stolen were a rifle, Dallas police badge, police radios and body armor. The burglar also took a device that sets off a harmless explosion and is sometimes used by officers to distract and apprehend suspects.

Police said a department-wide alert was issued regarding the burglary. No arrests were reported in the case Thursday night, police said.

They said on TV that the rifles were select fire for 3 round burst. It may have been the same guy that stole all of the rounds of ammo a while back!

[CompVest]

Which is it? Rifle or rifles? Was the equipment his swat rig or the team's rigs?

One has to wonder why the firearm/firearms weren't secured.

[carlson1]

TV reports that they were locked in a "safe" in the back of the unmarked "SUV." The burgler was able to get into the vehicle, unlock the safe and taken all his weapons (I don't think it was all of teams weapons) and all of his armor, badge, uniforms, and gear. They said the replacement cost for the rifle was $10,000, but the street value was $25,000.

[mgood]

If we banned select-fire weapons for police use, we wouldn't have to worry about them falling into the wrong hands, now would we? [/sarcasm]

[joe817]

Stole a select fire rifle? maybe an M-16, or M4? I wonder how many people are going to die as a result of this?

"The burglar also took a device that sets off a harmless explosion and is sometimes used by officers to distract and apprehend suspects. "

That tells me the bg also made off with a flash-bang grenade. I wonder how many?

All the items needed to pull off a high profile bank robbery, or worse.

Thanks Carlson1, interesting post.

[A-R]

Before everyone starts blaming the SWAT LEO for this, it does appear the items were properly secured in a locked container inside the locked vehicle. Not sure what more you can ask these guys to do with their gear, which AFAIK they must keep on them 24/7 in case they get an emergency call.

Someone with knowledge of this who is willing and able to break into both the car and the locked trunk and take these items obviously needs to be caught quickly. But I'm not sure what further measures we all want/expect SWAT members to take. Should they all drive armored vehicles with "Mission Impossible" style self-destruct alarms 24/7/365?

[MechAg94]

TV reports that they were locked in a "safe" in the back of the unmarked "SUV." The burgler was able to get into the vehicle, unlock the safe and taken all his weapons (I don't think it was all of teams weapons) and all of his armor, badge, uniforms, and gear. They said the replacement cost for the rifle was $10,000, but the street value was $25,000.

What sort of rifle costs $10,000? Was this his double rifle used for taking down rampaging elephants? I didn't think that was an issue in Dallas.

[A-R]

TV reports that they were locked in a "safe" in the back of the unmarked "SUV." The burgler was able to get into the vehicle, unlock the safe and taken all his weapons (I don't think it was all of teams weapons) and all of his armor, badge, uniforms, and gear. They said the replacement cost for the rifle was $10,000, but the street value was $25,000.

What sort of rifle costs $10,000? Was this his double rifle used for taking down rampaging elephants? I didn't think that was an issue in Dallas.

A tricked out .50 BMG?

I'm thinking this should be $10,000 for rifleS (plural). A top-notch sniper rifle, plus a nice M4, and maybe an MP5? All that together could easily add up to $10,000 or more.

[juggernaut]

If we banned select-fire weapons for police use, we wouldn't have to worry about them falling into the wrong hands, now would we? [/sarcasm]

Cops should have to follow the same rules as voters. Except in a police state.

[flynbenny]

Last time I saw a transferable select fire M16 it was $13K. I still want to know why the rifle cost $10K though...

[Oldgringo]

The truth will out.

[p99guy]

Police Departments pay around $1,600 for a select fire M16, and roughly that for an MP5......its not the same economy for private NFA buyers.

[KD5NRH]

Police Departments pay around $1,600 for a select fire M16, and roughly that for an MP5......its not the same economy for private NFA buyers.

Don't you mean that taxpayers will pay around $1600 for a police department to have a select fire M16?

[WildBill]

I wouldn't want to be the guy who was caught with that stuff. He'll be hurtin' for certain.

[PocketGroove]

I wouldn't want to be the guy who was caught with that stuff. He'll be hurtin' for certain.

I wouldn't want to be the cop who was responsible for the gear!
I'm in the Army Band and we had a Sergeant who went on vacation to Chicago with an Army owned saxophone...It was stolen out of his car and, oh man, the hammer was about to drop, but Chicago's finest recovered it in a pawn shop. lol, and that was just a tenor sax.