Justin L. Mack

For the second time in as many weeks, dozens of powerful weapons were brazenly snatched from an Indianapolis gun shop.

And just like the earlier incident, the missing firearms are a concern for investigators working to track down the potentially dangerous thieves.

“Gun thefts are always a concern for us because of where those guns may end up,” said Lt. Christopher Bailey of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. “They may end up being sold on the street to felons and people who can’t buy them legally. They may end up being traded for drugs. They may be used in a violent crime against an innocent member of the community or a member of the Police Department.

“Our No. 1 priority is the impact these thefts have on the community. That’s why we need people to be vigilant and contact us whenever they see something.”

Around 3 a.m. Sunday, an alarm called IMPD officers to Wide Open Arms at 3722 E. Raymond St. A vehicle had rammed the door of the business, allowing the thieves to enter the store and steal more than 30 guns, police said.

Officials said the vehicle left behind some evidence, and Wide Open Arms employees are aiding in the investigation. Calls placed to the Southeastside gun shop Tuesday for comment were not returned.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, in conjunction with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the weapons thefts.

The complete list of stolen weapons was not available Tuesday, but ATF spokeswoman Suzanne Dabkowski confirmed that numerous handguns were reported stolen. The Indiana State Police is also assisting in the investigation.

The burglary at Wide Open Arms comes at the end of a two-week stretch marred by a high-profile gun theft involving Indianapolis residents. Last weekend, a box trailer containing 29 weapons and 20,000 rounds of ammunition was stolen from Profire Arms and Supply on the Far Westside.

Clifford Helm, 42, Indianapolis, and Linda Panken, 54, Lafayette were arrested in connection with the weapons theft. Bailey said Tuesday that the majority of those weapons have been recovered.

In another recent incident, three Indianapolis men accused of fatally shooting a Jennings County gun shop owner and stealing dozens of weapons from his store were arrested.

Dejaun Worthen, 23; Darion Harris, 20; and Darryl Worthen, 24, were taken into custody Sept. 22 at an Indianapolis home. Maj. Jerry Shepherd of the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office said all three men were being held without bond in the Jennings County Jail on charges of murder and robbery.

Police said the Jennings County shooting took place Sept. 21. Only four of the 47 weapons the three are accused of stealing have been found.

Although the rash of weapons thefts has drawn the attention of other area gun shop owners, it isn’t shaking them.

Jon Montgomery of 500 Guns said these kinds of crimes seem to happen in waves.

Montgomery said the key is for gun shop owners to keep their inventory locked up.

“I’ve been in the business 35 years, and we keep everything locked up at all times,” he said. Gun store break-ins and thefts come and go, he said. “I don’t know what causes it. Maybe the moon changes or something.”

Don Davis, who owns Don’s Guns and Galleries at 3807 Lafayette Road, believes the crimes are committed by individuals looking to make a quick buck on the street.

They target shops with visible security issues. Some business operators, Davis said, aren’t as prepared as they could be.

“What happens is people see gun shops like Don’s Guns and they say to themselves, ‘I want to get into the gun business,’ ” he said. “But a lot more goes into it than just getting a firearm license and selling guns. You’ve got to take precautions and be prepared, and there are some places that don’t take the necessary precautions. A lot of it is just common sense.”

National figures put Indiana in the top 10 in both the number of reported gun thefts and the number of firearms stolen in 2013. In the annual Federal Firearm Licensee Theft/Loss Report, released earlier this year by the ATF, Indiana was No. 7 in number of firearms stolen, 165, and No. 9 in the number of reported thefts, 31.

Statistics also show that stolen or illegally obtained guns are often used to commit crimes. According to a report by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2004, the most recent year of data available, 40 percent of state prison inmates who possessed a gun at the time of the offense obtained it from an illegal source. Thirty-seven percent obtained it from family or friends.

The report states that fewer than 2 percent bought their firearm at a flea market or gun show. About 10 percent of the offenders said they purchased it from a store or pawnshop.

Bailey said gun shop heists like the one at Wide Open Arms are rare. More commonly, guns are reported stolen by individuals who may have left a weapon unsecured or unattended.

“People may leave guns out in their homes or in their cars, so when those are burglarized, their gun may be stolen in the process,” he said.

Davis recommends fighting potential gun theft at home by investing in a lock box or a safe that keeps weapons out of reach but ensures that they are easily accessible if needed for protection.

“We sell small, tabletop safes that can be opened with a combination or a key, so guns can be (accessed) quickly,” he said. “What you can do is leave your safe open when you’re nearby at home and lock it up when you’re away. That way if you need it ... you can quickly get to it.”

Anyone having information about the Wide Open Arms burglary should call the ATF at 1-800-283-4867. All calls will be kept confidential.

Callers also may provide information anonymously by calling the Indianapolis field office at (317) 287-3500 or Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-8477.

Call Star reporter Justin L. Mack at (317) 444-6138. Follow him on Twitter: @justinlmack.