Crime & Safety

Weapons Stolen From FBI SWAT Truck in Andover

The FBI is offering a $20,000 for your help.

Two weapons were stolen from an FBI SWAT emergency response vehicle parked in Andover, and authorities are seeking your help to retrieve them.

The Boston Division of the FBI released a statement and plea for help Thursday afternoon, and they are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of those weapons.

"We're taking this very seriously," FBI Special Agent Damon Katz said. "We want to have those weapons out of hands of criminals."

Some time Wednesday evening or early morning Thursday, while the vehicle was parked in a home in Andover, two guns -- a Colt M16-A1 Rifle and an HS Precision Pro-Series 2000 Sniper Rifle -- were stolen from it.

The vehicle was in Andover at the home of an FBI employee. There were also items stolen from residential vehicles parked at nearby homes.

"We have a certain number of take-home vehicles that allow us to still operate emergency response in the region," Katz said.

FBI vehicle breaks are not a common occurrence, Katz said.

While the reward may seem enticing, authorities are stressing that residents should not attempt to search for them.

"That would be spectacularly dangerous," Katz added.

The FBI is working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, including Andover Police and the Violent Crimes Task Force, which includes law enforcement from Somerville, Malden, Saugus, Cambridge, Boston and State Police.

Find out what's happening in Andoverwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Authorities are urging anyone with information to call the FBI in Boston at 617-742-5533 or the Andover Police Department at 978-475-0411.


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