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Police are on the hunt for at least 30 firearms stolen from a Calgary shooting range, now presumably in the hands of criminals who are in the crosshairs of investigators.
And they are appealing to the public for help finding culprits or weapons swiped during the break-in at the Calgary Shooting Centre, in the 7100 block of Fisher Rd. S.E., about 4 a.m. Thursday.
Insp. Patty McCallum said suspects ?smashed several display cases and removed a number of firearms.?
They were properly stored, said McCallum, who could not comment on whether the culprits ? there are believed to be three ? had ammunition among their ill-gotten loot.
While police would not reveal what type of firearms were taken nor an exact number, some Calgary gun clubs were told there were as many as 37 unaccounted for.
It is believed a truck was used to get past metal bars on a window and a patrolling security guard contacted police about the crime.
With the guns now on the streets, police have fears about their final destination.
?Your guess is as good as mine where the guns will end up,? McCallum said.
?Our concern is (the firearms) could be used in other offences.?
The Calgary Shooting Centre?s website boasts the has everything from classic pistols to firearms of many calibres, rifles and semiautomatics.
John Meilleur, an owner of the shop, declined to comment Thursday given the police investigation.
J.R. Cox, owner of the competing Shooting Edge, said thefts from any such establishment is bad for all of them.
?If a gun gets on the street we?re responsible, but the public doesn?t hold car manufacturers responsible if a drunk driver is on the streets,? he said.
Shooting ranges are required to have monitored alarm systems and lock up firearms, Cox said.
?It really sucks,? he said of the heist.
?The last thing you want is close to 40 firearms out on the streets ... bad guys with guns.?
It is not the first time gun ranges have come under fire.
Several years ago, former police chief Jack Beaton said he feared gangsters were using the facilities as training grounds to hone shooting skills after two gang members ? both with a 10-yaer firearm prohibition ? were caught by cops at a shooting range.
About two years ago, two Calgarians were found guilty ? one handed a three-year jail term ? after four prohibited handguns were stolen from Wholesale Sports on Heritage Way S.E.
? With files from Al Charest
nadia.moharib@sunmedia.ca
On Twitter @SUNnadiamoharib
Source: http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/rss/go/36636
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