Man Accused of Stealing 111 Guns from Smith and Wesson

Stratford police have arrested a truck driver accused of stealing more than 100 guns from the Smith & Wesson plant in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Stratford Police, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Bridgeport Police all investigated and arrested Elliot Perez on Friday.

Perez is a tractor-trailer driver for Pace Motor Lines in Stratford, according to police. He is accused of stealing 111 handguns from the Smith & Wesson on Nov. 8, transporting them Bridgeport and removing them from the truck.

Police said Michael Murphy took some of them and Perez and Murphy are accused of selling some of the guns on the street.  Police said they were able to retrieve 28 of the 111 stolen firearms.

Perez was charged with 111 counts of criminal possession of a firearm, 111 counts of theft of a firearm, one count of illegal sale of a firearm, one count of transfer of a firearm by person ineligible to possess same and five counts of weapon in a motor vehicle.

He is being held on a $500,000 bond and is due in court on Dec. 6. 

Murphy has been charged with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and theft of a firearm. 

He was released on a $10,000 bond and is due in court on Dec. 6.

“This incident is a perfect example of why we need stronger gun laws in the United States, loopholes need to be tightened up, and in this particular case, the manufacturer needs to be cited for its lack of diligence in tracking its shipment. Our department is working closely with ATF and the Stratford police to locate these guns. I urge anyone who has information as to the whereabouts of the rest of these illegal guns to contact the Bridgeport or Stratford police, or the ATF, before someone gets hurt or another crime occurs,” Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch said in a news release.

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