Montebello, CA - Suspect Steals Patrol Car - Steals AR - 15 Assault Rifle And Shotgun - Weapons Still Missing
Guns stolen from police car
Staff Writer
Posted: 03/08/2009 03:26:36 PM PDT
MONTEBELLO - Police are seeking to recover an assault rifle and a shotgun
taken from a police car that was stolen early Sunday in Montebello and abandoned
in Valinda, authorities said.
The incident occurred about 3 a.m. as a police officer was responding to a
complaint about a party in the 600 block of North Forbes Avenue, Montebello
police Lt. Brad Keller said.
"When he returned to his police unit, it was gone," the lieutenant said.
The police car was found abandoned about 4:30 a.m. in the 1200 block of
Ballista Avenue in Valinda by sheriff's deputies, Los Angeles County sheriff's
Sgt. Russell Boucher said.
The car was left parked on the street in the residential neighborhood, he added.
They keys were not inside.
The car was undamaged, and nothing was taken except the weapons, Keller said.
"All the other equipment was intact," he said.
Stolen was a 12-gauge Remington 870 shotgun and an AR-15 assault rifle, Keller
said. An AR-15 is a semi-automatic version of the military's M16 rifle.
"The weapons are kept loaded," he said. The rifle was fitted with either a
20- or 30-round magazine containing 7.62-mm ammunition.
"Of course we're concerned," Keller said. "We hope to get our weapons back."
Under California law, an AR-15s can be legally purchased by civilians, but not
with a magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds.
Initial reports indicated the police car had a dead battery when found,
however the lieutenant said it was not clear if the lights or sirens were left
on.
No suspect information was available, he said.
Officials were investigating whether the keys were left in the police car,
Keller said.
While doing so is not necessarily a violation of department policy, he added,
"It's certainly not something we want our officers to do."
The shotgun was valued at just over $450, while the AR-15 was worth nearly
$1,000, Keller said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Montebello Police Department at
(323) 887-1313.