Renton police, ATF investigate smash-and-grab burglary at local gun store

Police are currently unsure about the origin and circumstance of the truck used to breach the store.

By Cameron Sheppard • February 15, 2023 4:40 pm
The glass doors smashed by burglars with a truck early in the morning of Feb. 15 are removed as employees clean up the scene. Cameron Sheppard / the Reporter
The glass doors smashed by burglars with a truck early in the morning of Feb. 15 are removed as employees clean up the scene. Cameron Sheppard / the Reporter

Renton Police officers were dispatched to a commercial burglary in progress around 3:15 a.m. on Feb. 15 at Pantel Tactical, a firearm and tactical accessories store at 16926 116th Ave. SE.

Police units arrived minutes later but the suspects had already fled. However, a white truck that the burglars used to break through the storefront was left lodged into the front wall of the store.

As of the morning of Feb. 15, police spokesperson Sandra Havlik said investigators are still awaiting a stolen items list from the store, but items such as night vision goggles were stolen from the store.

According to police, no firearms were stolen during the burglary.

Based on security camera footage from the store, police say it appears two vehicles arrived for the burglary and the suspect fled in the other vehicle.

“We did reach out to the owner of the abandoned truck to see if the owner was aware of where his vehicle was, as it was not reported stolen,” said Havlik in an email. “We were unable to reach the owner and at this time … there has been no follow-up calls that I have seen to indicate if the truck used in the crime was an unreported stolen vehicle.”

The truck was reportedly impounded to the department’s evidence garage for processing.

Havlik said there is video evidence investigators still have to review, and at this time there is no detailed suspect information. She said the case will be assigned to a detective and then there will be further investigation.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosive (ATF) spokesperson, Jason Chudy, was at the scene following the incident. Chudy said the ATF typically investigates any incidents of theft that occur at a federally licensed firearm dealer such as Pantel Tactical to determine if and how firearms might have been stolen and if they could be in possession of criminals in the nearby community.

Chudy confirmed that no firearms were stolen from Pantel Tactical as they had the weapons locked up safely and did a “good job” protecting them.

He called the incident a loss for the firearm retailer, but a win for the community, as no stolen firearms related to the incident are presenting danger.