Across the nation, and here in Tennessee, thefts from gun stores and pawn shops are on the rise. The number of robberies of federal firearms licensees reported to the ATF have increased 227 percent since 2013 and burglaries of such gun purveyors are up 71 percent over that same period. There are no federal laws requiring those with a federal firearms license (or FFL) to take steps to prevent theft. Anyone “engaged in the business” of selling firearms, such as gun stores or pawn shops, must have a federal firearms license. A number of states, including Alabama and West Virginia, have state laws that require FFLs to take reasonable measures, such as locking inventory up at night.

Of course, many FFLs already go to great lengths to prevent theft such as utilizing bars on windows and doors and keeping inventory safely secured after store hours. But others don’t, relying instead on security cameras and alarms. However, masked thieves with hammers can get in and out of a store in a matter of minutes, bags filled with handguns, pistols, and rifles, and are already long gone by the time law enforcement arrives.

Below are instances of “smash and grab” and other forms of theft from gun stores and pawn shops that we have tracked since 2017. In no way is this an exhaustive list. These are only the stories that we tracked from media reports.

Stolen guns are sold on the street or trafficked to other states. Stolen guns become crime guns.

Based on the reports below, criminals have been able to steal over hundreds - handguns and long guns - from stores that lacked adequate security measures. Those guns are now on our streets being used to commit crimes.

$3K reward offered after guns stolen from Dyersburg store
Cypress Creek Outdoors
Dyersburg
July 2019
7 guns stolen

ATF Offers Reward in Theft of Guns From Memphis Pawn Shop
Cash America Pawn
Memphis
July 2019
9 guns stolen

Authorities offer $5K reward for information on firearms stolen from Milan gun shop
RFC Tactical
Milan
May 2019
11 guns stolen

Guns taken during robbery at Hermitage gun store
Huck Defense
Hermitage
April 2019
Three Glocks, a rifle, and gun parts stolen

Two Hermitage gun stores robbed Monday within minutes of each other
Music City Pawn
Hermitage
April 2019
Unknown if any guns were stolen

Murfreesboro gun store owners hold suspected thieves at gunpoint until police arrive
Bullseye Gun Gear and Pawn
Murfreesboro
February 2019
No guns stolen

4 arrested after 56 firearms taken from Knox County gun shop
Knoxville Tactical
Knoxville
November 2018
56 guns stolen

Police search for 2 suspects with child in gun store robbery
Guns and Leather Pro Shop
Hendersonville
November 2018
$500 worth of accessories stolen, but no guns stolen

16 handguns stolen in Savannah gun store break-in
Talley’s Lock and Load
Savannah
October 2018
16 handguns stolen

ATF Offers Reward In Memphis Gun Store Robbery
Pawn Plus
Memphis
July 2018
47 guns stolen

Reward offered after 25 firearms stolen from Columbia gun store
King’s Firearms
Columbia
February 2018
25 guns stolen

Reward offered after 25 firearms stolen from Columbia gun store
Kings Firearms
Columbia
February 2018
25 guns stolen

12 guns stolen during Henry County “smash and grab” burglary
Guns N’ Gear
Paris
February 2018
12 handguns stolen

Long guns stolen during break-in at Smyrna pawn shop
Kwik Cash Pawn Shop
Smyna
January 2018
Multiple long guns stolen

Clarksville gun store owner says group stole 31 guns in Christmas Day break-in
Double Tap Tactical
Clarksville
December 2017
25 semi-automatic pistols, three revolvers, and three rifles stolen

Reward offered in Dickson gun store burglary
Golden Eagle Pawn
Dickson
December 2017
Approximately 19 firearms stolen

Dozens of guns stolen from Murfreesboro gun outlet Friday night
Murfreesboro Outdoor Gun Shop
Murfreesboro
December 2017
More than 45 guns stolen

ATF offering reward in Mount Juliet gun store robbery
nRange Gun Store
Mt. Juliet
December 2017
Approximately 18 guns stolen

Multiple shotguns, rifles and more stolen from Smyrna gun store Thursday
Guns n More
Memphis
November 2017
Multiple guns stolen

Reward offered after 24 firearms stolen from Murfreesboro gun store
On Target Gun Store
Murfreesboro
November 2017
24 guns stolen

17 Guns Stolen In Monday Morning Pawn Shop Robbery
Pawn Plus
Memphis
November 2017
17 guns stolen

ATF offers $ 7,000 reward in Smyrna Gun Store Robbery
Guns n More
Smyrna
October 2017
Approximately 24 firearms stolen

Three masked men break into Gallatin store, steal high-powered guns
Sumner Gun and Supply
September 2017
18 guns stolen

43 guns stolen from Memphis gun range; $5,000 reward offered
Range USA
Memphis
July 2017
43 guns stolen

About 15 guns stolen from Mt. Juliet store; $5,000 reward offered
Guns & Ammo Store
Mt. Juliet
June 2017
Approximately 15 handguns guns stolen

Reward Offered In Theft of 45 Guns From Clarksville Gun Store
Tactical Edge
Clarksville
June 2017
45 guns stolen

Guns Stolen During Madison Smash-&-Grab
nRange Gun Store
Nashville/Madison
June 2017
Multiple guns stolen

Cash reward offered for information on La Vergne gun store burglary
Specialty Arms
LaVergne
May 2017
Approximately 39 guns stolen

17 guns stolen from Nashville pawn shop, $10K reward offered for information
Cash America Pawn
Nashville
February 2017
17 guns stolen

Nearly two dozen guns stolen from pawn shop
AA Pawn
Memphis
January 17
23 guns stolen