View Full Version : Cache of Weapons Stolen From Los Angeles SWAT Training Site
Team Sergeant
10-18-2011, 13:41
How do you Spell "Professional" ?
I once had an LAPD SWAT Team Member tell me "We can do anything US Army Special Operations can do."
Actually the LAPD has now one upped us.....:munchin
Cache of Weapons Stolen From Los Angeles SWAT Training Site
Published October 17, 2011
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES – Dozens of police weapons, including submachine guns, were stolen from a SWAT training building by thieves who cut through a series of locked doors, police said.
The 21 MP-5 submachine guns and 12 large-caliber handguns were altered to fire blanks, but police were concerned that they could be converted back to take live ammunition.
The unguarded building was considered secure, LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Downing told the Los Angeles Times.
"I guess `secure' is all relative now," he said. "It's embarrassing. ... It's a lesson learned."
The guns were moved Wednesday night to a multistory downtown building and stored in a locked box on the first floor, Downing said.
The building is about a mile from SWAT headquarters. It was donated to the department and has no alarm or surveillance systems.
SWAT members were scheduled to train at the building Thursday, but a police officer arriving at about 9 a.m. found that the weapons were missing, Downing said.
Thieves cut locks on an outside door and two inside doors and forced their way through a metal roll gate, he said.
The building was openly used as a SWAT training site and sometimes public demonstrations were held there. However, police have not ruled out the possibility that the theft might have involved police officers, Downing said.
"You wonder if this was a planned operation, what information they had, whether they were conducting surveillance," he said.
Since the theft, "appropriate measures" have been taken, Downing said, without providing details.
However, regional law enforcement agencies have been notified.
"This is a big deal," Downing said. "We're concerned. We want to recover them."
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/17/30-weapons-stolen-from-los-angeles-swat-training-site/#ixzz1bAEaD2nO
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/10/17/30-weapons-stolen-from-los-angeles-swat-training-site/#ixzz1bAEWIkou
Roguish Lawyer
10-18-2011, 14:21
They beat the SF teams at the SFA 78 shooter's cup, so I guess you'll have to be on my team for next year to make things right . . . and we need 4 more guys. :munchin
Cache of Weapons Stolen From Los Angeles SWAT Training Site
Published October 17, 2011
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES – Dozens of police weapons, including submachine guns, were stolen from a SWAT training building by thieves who cut through a series of locked doors, police said.
The 21 MP-5 submachine guns and 12 large-caliber handguns were altered to fire blanks, but police were concerned that they could be converted back to take live ammunition.
Sounds like a job for:
El Jefe and the Fast-n-Furious Pendejo's...
didn't a 10th SFG Team get a vehicle full of weapons stolen. They parked it at a resturant and all went in to eat. Just saying.....
Iraqgunz
10-18-2011, 16:36
Ok, something smells funny. I saw the news on the net from NBC and they were downplaying it. As a matter of fact it was stated by an LAPD commander;
The 15 MP-5 submachine guns and 15 colt .45 handguns were modified to fire small plastic bullets, similar to those used in paintball, LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said.
“These weapons are not functional,” Smith said. “They will not shoot bullets. You cannot shoot bullets without extensive modifications.”
Smith compared the modified weapons to "paintball guns."
Now, it would seem to me that they are downplaying the situation a little too much. I presume that the weapons were altered so they could shoot Sim rounds. That being the case they can very easily be swapped back into a shooting configuration.
I have also read 3 different sets of numbers as to what went missing and I have to wonder f they just don't have a clue or is the media seriously screwing up?
The Reaper
10-18-2011, 16:56
Ok, something smells funny. I saw the news on the net from NBC and they were downplaying it. As a matter of fact it was stated by an LAPD commander;
The 15 MP-5 submachine guns and 15 colt .45 handguns were modified to fire small plastic bullets, similar to those used in paintball, LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith said.
“These weapons are not functional,” Smith said. “They will not shoot bullets. You cannot shoot bullets without extensive modifications.”
Smith compared the modified weapons to "paintball guns."
Now, it would seem to me that they are downplaying the situation a little too much. I presume that the weapons were altered so they could shoot Sim rounds. That being the case they can very easily be swapped back into a shooting configuration.
I have also read 3 different sets of numbers as to what went missing and I have to wonder f they just don't have a clue or is the media seriously screwing up?
Bullshit.
They were modified to fire Simunitions.
All you have to do to change them to live weapons is to replace a few parts.
No offense to anyone here, but I have been unimpressed by the SoCal LEOs I have met.
TR
mojaveman
10-18-2011, 19:02
This ranks right up there with the AK-74s that were stolen from Ft. Irwin last month. Whoever was responsible for the weapon's security needs a good spanking. What they need to do is offer a high enough reward so that hopefully they will all be returned. All of the labor that was involved in the break-in makes me think that they knew what they were after. Could this theft have been commited by an employee of the Department? Like maybe an armorer, arms custodian or even an officer?
Are we sure these weapons weren't allowed to "walk"?
The van full of weapons stolen at the diner was the FBI HRT........ not 10th SFG.
Ok, something smells funny.
<<SNIP>>
I have also read 3 different sets of numbers as to what went missing and I have to wonder f they just don't have a clue or is the media seriously screwing up?
FWIW, I agree. The LAPD is presenting skewed narratives. It was either (a) an inside job (i.e. corruption and criminality) or (b) lapse of professionalism ("oops, our bad:o"). The items stolen were either (1) of no real concern to the general public because they cannot fire live ammunition but (2) we (the LAPD) really need to recover these items.
I have a lot of confidence in the rank and file of the LAPD. I would like to think that this incident is isolated and a lot of the confusion comes from the difficulties of public affairs types trying to keep pace with an ongoing investigations. However, I fear that there's some bad cheese somewhere in the fridge.
In regards to TS's and TR's points, LAPD special tactics does a lot of self promoting--at times it does seem a little like chest thumping when they argue they're the world's best unit. As a citizen of L.A., I hope that when it really hits the fan, there will be sizzle to the steak.
My $0.02, YMMV.
Iraqgunz
10-19-2011, 04:33
I have some friends on LAPD (one is a Det. Sgt) and I grew up down in the Valley. For the most most part the rank and file guys are great. But, the leadership makes me wonder how in the hell they are able to function at all.
I assume that they are trying to downplay the situation so that if in fact they were taken by someone on the outside they don't realize just how easy it would be to make all of the weapons operational.
Obviously it's damage control but one has to wonder what the hell is going on when they are locked up in a "secure" location only to get jacked.
FWIW, I agree. The LAPD is presenting skewed narratives. It was either (a) an inside job (i.e. corruption and criminality) or (b) lapse of professionalism ("oops, our bad:o"). The items stolen were either (1) of no real concern to the general public because they cannot fire live ammunition but (2) we (the LAPD) really need to recover these items.
I have a lot of confidence in the rank and file of the LAPD. I would like to think that this incident is isolated and a lot of the confusion comes from the difficulties of public affairs types trying to keep pace with an ongoing investigations. However, I fear that there's some bad cheese somewhere in the fridge.
In regards to TS's and TR's points, LAPD special tactics does a lot of self promoting--at times it does seem a little like chest thumping when they argue they're the world's best unit. As a citizen of L.A., I hope that when it really hits the fan, there will be sizzle to the steak.
My $0.02, YMMV.
The van full of weapons stolen at the diner was the FBI HRT........ not 10th SFG.
C/1/10 SFGA did lose a vehicle with wpns, gear, etc. A while back. You are right that HRT also lost wpns. :D
monsterhunter
10-21-2011, 15:01
I have some friends on LAPD (one is a Det. Sgt) and I grew up down in the Valley. For the most most part the rank and file guys are great. But, the leadership makes me wonder how in the hell they are able to function at all.
I assume that they are trying to downplay the situation so that if in fact they were taken by someone on the outside they don't realize just how easy it would be to make all of the weapons operational.
Obviously it's damage control but one has to wonder what the hell is going on when they are locked up in a "secure" location only to get jacked.
I've had better luck with the rank and file who work down in the southwest/east areas. The brass I've seen has left me scratching my head. It is one of the most top heavy organizations I've ever seen. I also feel it's a major downfall for them as not enough decision making is with the folks who are right there when something happens. This has only hurt the line folks.
As far as LAPD SWAT doing everything Special Op's does, I'd like to see the compitition start with a HAHO jump over the ocean at night followed by an inflatable raft and dive insert onto a ship in LA Harbor. In anotherwords, I call bullshit. A fine team they are but one should not overextend their purpose or capabilities.
I'll ask around, my old team sgt (W9) and former company SGM is LAPD D platoon. There's another 180A from the dive team in my company who's with Metro.
The Reaper
10-21-2011, 17:18
I've had better luck with the rank and file who work down in the southwest/east areas. The brass I've seen has left me scratching my head. It is one of the most top heavy organizations I've ever seen. I also feel it's a major downfall for them as not enough decision making is with the folks who are right there when something happens. This has only hurt the line folks.
As far as LAPD SWAT doing everything Special Op's does, I'd like to see the compitition start with a HAHO jump over the ocean at night followed by an inflatable raft and dive insert onto a ship in LA Harbor. In anotherwords, I call bullshit. A fine team they are but one should not overextend their purpose or capabilities.
Maybe then they could take a year or ten to train up a resistance force via a foreign language, develop their DA and SR capabilities, and help them overthrow the government forces?
TR
I am aware of one thing that both current and former LAPD SWAT team members have that I am sure none of you QP's will ever have...
Their SAG cards.
(as in Screen Actors Guild)