How Criminals Get Guns: Snatch-and-Grab Thief Crashes Hay Barn Tractor into Gun Store in Washington state

Using a front-end loading tractor, a daring thief smashed through the front wall and entrance to steal firearms from a popular long-time gun store in Washington state.

Shortly before midnight, the thief drove a stolen farm tractor to gain access to a family-owned gun store and shoved from 20 to 30 firearms into a duffle bag before driving away from the scene a few minutes later.

The store security camera captured dramatic video of the crime, which was released by the owner to show what happened.

"It’s very frustrating that people don’t understand this guy almost tore down my building,” the owner remarked. “This video will show how my doors did work … but it was the walls around that gave away."

The tractor had been next to a hay barn when it was stolen. Police found it abandoned along a roadside.

“I’m just tired of everybody saying ‘you didn’t have good security’ when we had wonderful security.”

An investigation by the law enforcement authorities continues. Blood was found at the scene, and the video of the theft shows the criminal injuring his hand during the crime.

In early May, state police arrested a 20-year-old felon in the area who allegedly was in possession of a stolen firearm that still had a price tag from the gun store. Police received a tip that the felon was allegedly trying to sell stolen guns from a motel room.

During a stakeout with state police and agents from the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the felon was apparently seen at the hotel “meeting with several people in the parking lot, making trips to a Volkswagen Jetta and carrying a bag.”

“A .22-caliber revolver was under the passenger seat of the vehicle, and narcotics, pills, scales and small ‘bindles’ were retrieved based on warrants to search the vehicle and a hotel room,” according to media reports.

The felon, not considered a suspect in the smash-and-grab at the gun shop, was arrested, with bail set at $50,000.