Around 1:40am on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, a burglary occurred at the Backwoods Armory, located at 17849 US Highway 80 in Brooklet, GA. The suspect fled with 12 firearms, which the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) says pose a potential danger to our communities and quality of life.
Surveillance cameras in the store captured the burglary in progress, as well as the getaway vehicle. View the video below.
ATF Resident Agent in Charge Joseph Waller said, "ATF takes this crime very seriously. ATF is committed to preventing firearms trafficking, which is a serious offense resulting in significant federal prison time for those responsible."
The ATF is now looking for the community's help to recover the stolen firearms and to identify and apprehend the suspect. A reward is being offered by the ATF in an amount up to $5,000, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation will match it for a total reward of up to $10,000.
This reward is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the NSSF and ATF in which NSSF matches ATF rewards in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. ATF works closely with firearms industry members to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of weapons.