The owner of a downtown Liberty business victimized by a smash-and-grab said he’s working with law enforcement to catch the burglars.Early Tuesday morning, surveillance video shows the burglars crashing through the front entrance of the business, driving what investigators say is a stolen vehicle.The video then shows the burglars getting out of the vehicle and stealing firearms, all in less than two minutes.”It made me nauseous. It really did, just to see all of our hard work, all of our sacrifice. We don’t have bank loans. We don’t have large money behind us. This is a family business,” Daniel Mull, “Adventure Outdoors” owner, said.Investigators say the burglars left the scene in another stolen vehicle, a silver minivan.They’re looking for that vehicle.Mull says the burglars stole about 20 firearms worth somewhere between $15,000 and $25,000.He also says the burglars cut themselves on glass from a display case, leaving blood traces beyond as potential DNA evidence if they’re caught.Mull also says he’s given a list of the stolen firearms to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives, including serial numbers.I want to make sure that we kind of smoke these guys out. I don’t want them to get away with what they did. There’s too big of a risk,” he said.The burglary took place in a historic part of Liberty near the square.Local business owners say they watch out for each other.”KC Blooms Plant Boutique” is across Main Street from Adventure Outdoors.Alexis Reynolds said about a month ago, she spotted teens shoplifting items from the store.When their faces were posted on social media, she says they returned and paid for the merchandise.Reynolds said the store opened less than a year ago, just after Adventure Outdoors.”It sucks if it happens to anybody but us being small businesses, it really takes a hit on everybody,” she said.Next to KC Blooms Plant Boutique is “All About Tie Dye.”Owner Gaileen Jackson says that with Adventure Outdoors now boarded up and closed for the time being, there will be less foot traffic on her part of Main Street.”And that’s a struggle that we have always trying to get more customers to come down to our end of the road here in Liberty,” Jackson said.Mull says he hopes to reopen within two weeks.In the meantime, he’s relying on the travel trailer rental part of his business and selling other items online to stay afloat.Mull also says he’s having trouble with his insurance company covering the firearms even though he pays a high deductible for a $1 million policy in a building he rents.”We’re going to do whatever we have to do and whatever means necessary to ensure that we stay operational,” he said.Mull said he had applied to get concrete pillars installed in front of his business to prevent the kind of drive-in smash-and-grab he suffered Tuesday morning.But he says that because the sidewalk in front of his business is narrow and it’s in a historic district, city leaders denied that request.He and his landlord are making another attempt to get those concrete pillars.Mull and his family are offering a $500 reward to anyone who provides information leading to the burglars’ arrest and conviction.ATF, in conjunction with the Liberty Police Department and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is offering a $5000 reward for the same purpose.Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact ATF at 888-ATF-TIPS 888-283-8477 or by email at ATFTips@atf.gov.
The owner of a downtown Liberty business victimized by a smash-and-grab said he’s working with law enforcement to catch the burglars.
Early Tuesday morning, surveillance video shows the burglars crashing through the front entrance of the business, driving what investigators say is a stolen vehicle.
Advertisement
The video then shows the burglars getting out of the vehicle and stealing firearms, all in less than two minutes.
“It made me nauseous. It really did, just to see all of our hard work, all of our sacrifice. We don’t have bank loans. We don’t have large money behind us. This is a family business,” Daniel Mull, “Adventure Outdoors” owner, said.
Investigators say the burglars left the scene in another stolen vehicle, a silver minivan.
They’re looking for that vehicle.
Mull says the burglars stole about 20 firearms worth somewhere between $15,000 and $25,000.
He also says the burglars cut themselves on glass from a display case, leaving blood traces beyond as potential DNA evidence if they’re caught.
Mull also says he’s given a list of the stolen firearms to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms and Explosives, including serial numbers.
I want to make sure that we kind of smoke these guys out. I don’t want them to get away with what they did. There’s too big of a risk,” he said.
The burglary took place in a historic part of Liberty near the square.
Local business owners say they watch out for each other.
“KC Blooms Plant Boutique” is across Main Street from Adventure Outdoors.
Alexis Reynolds said about a month ago, she spotted teens shoplifting items from the store.
When their faces were posted on social media, she says they returned and paid for the merchandise.
Reynolds said the store opened less than a year ago, just after Adventure Outdoors.
“It sucks if it happens to anybody but us being small businesses, it really takes a hit on everybody,” she said.
Next to KC Blooms Plant Boutique is “All About Tie Dye.”
Owner Gaileen Jackson says that with Adventure Outdoors now boarded up and closed for the time being, there will be less foot traffic on her part of Main Street.
“And that’s a struggle that we have always trying to get more customers to come down to our end of the road here in Liberty,” Jackson said.
Mull says he hopes to reopen within two weeks.
In the meantime, he’s relying on the travel trailer rental part of his business and selling other items online to stay afloat.
Mull also says he’s having trouble with his insurance company covering the firearms even though he pays a high deductible for a $1 million policy in a building he rents.
“We’re going to do whatever we have to do and whatever means necessary to ensure that we stay operational,” he said.
Mull said he had applied to get concrete pillars installed in front of his business to prevent the kind of drive-in smash-and-grab he suffered Tuesday morning.
But he says that because the sidewalk in front of his business is narrow and it’s in a historic district, city leaders denied that request.
He and his landlord are making another attempt to get those concrete pillars.
Mull and his family are offering a $500 reward to anyone who provides information leading to the burglars’ arrest and conviction.
ATF, in conjunction with the Liberty Police Department and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, is offering a $5000 reward for the same purpose.
Anyone with information about the crime is asked to contact ATF at 888-ATF-TIPS 888-283-8477 or by email at ATFTips@atf.gov.