Reward offered in Aurora weapons theft

A reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men who stole numerous firearms late last month from J.R. Shooting Sports at 519 North Oakhurst Drive in Aurora, authorities said Wednesday.

The reward was announced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Aurora Police Department and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry.

Authorities said the two suspects entered the store around 12:05 a.m. March 27 and took the weapons. The crime is being investigated by Aurora police and the ATF.

"Through experience, we know that stolen firearms are used by violent criminals to perpetrate additional crimes," Special Agent in Charge Celinez Nunez of the ATF's Chicago field division said in a news release.

Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the ATF at 1-800-283-4867 or the Aurora Police Department at (630) 256-5500. Information also can also be sent to ATF via the mobile app www.reportit.com by using the Chicago Field Division as the location. All calls will be kept confidential.