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HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — has learned that thieves have stolen over 30 guns from a pawn shop left without power due to the recent storm. The suspects reportedly accessed the EZ Pawn shop at 4702 Highway 6 by breaking through the ceiling, primarily taking handguns now circulating on the streets.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, two employees discovered the burglary when they went to check on the shop Saturday morning. Due to the power outage, the store’s surveillance cameras were not operational, leaving authorities without any descriptions of the thieves.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is leading the investigation. Noel Rangers, ATF Houston’s assistant special agent in charge, highlighted the gravity of the situation: “Stolen firearms in Houston are a significant problem, whether they are stolen from a gun store or a person with a house or vehicle.”
The Houston Police Department noted an increase in burglaries at night since the storm. Officers reported that individuals have been charged with felonies for burglarizing businesses during the power outages.
Rangers emphasized the importance of gun dealers securing their firearms, especially when power outages disable security cameras. “We have the ability to send messages to licensed gun dealers that it is critical to properly store their firearms prior to any natural disaster,” he said.
Tracking stolen firearms used in crimes is challenging, which is why Rangers stressed the importance of gun owners recording their serial numbers. “Often times, there are several makes and models that are vastly produced, and if a gun owner doesn’t record the serial number, when it’s recovered in a crime, we aren’t able to determine where that firearm came from,” he explained.
Possessing a stolen firearm is a federal crime that can lead to up to 10 years in prison.