Stolen ammunition prompts urgent message from Columbus police
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Columbus police are now crime victims.
Investigators said 160-thousand rounds of ammunition meant for the police training facility were stolen from a west Columbus warehouse sometime between April 1 and April 4.
The ammunition is used in assault-style rifles like an AR-15.
"The theft occurred prior to it making it to a police facility," Columbus Police Deputy Chief Smith Weir said.
Police said the ammo and a Freightliner truck were stolen from a warehouse on Journal Street on the northwest side.
A police report said the lot is fenced in, but the gates are usually left open.
The report also indicates that while there are cameras there, investigators aren't sure if the theft was caught on video.
Police reached out to the shipping company when only part of the order arrived.
"They were made aware that it was not a delay in the order, that they had actually shipped it," Weir said. "At that time we contacted the warehouse the shipping company said they used. They reported a theft."
Just a week earlier, building supplies and appliances were stolen from a warehouse on Distribution Drive, in another stolen truck.
"While we were investigating the theft of the ammunition and other materials that were taken out of the warehouse, our detectives were already investigating another warehouse theft from the week prior," Weir said. "During a search warrant, we found that there was property from both thefts at the same place."
James Scaff and Christopher Kimmel are charged now with theft.
The ammunition has not yet been found, which prompted this message from the deputy chief.
"If you’ve bought 556 ammo in the past couple of weeks," Weir said. "If you bought it from somewhere other than a store, if you bought it from someone you know, saw it on social media, a marketplace, if you’ve gone to a gun show and seen it, we would like you to let us know."
Columbus police can be reached at 614-645-4545.
