Arizona Gun Store Owner Uses Truck as Barricade Against Robbers
Gun store owner in Arizona uses pickup truck as barricade after local thefts. ATF and industry groups warn of rising thefts.
3 min read
Arizona gun store owner John Petrush has taken an unconventional step to protect his business after two nearby stores were robbed. Following a series of thefts at federally-licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) in Tucson, Petrush has placed his pickup truck as a barricade at his store, John’s Guns and Ammo.
According to KVOA.com, two other FFLs in the area were targeted in recent break-ins, prompting Petrush to take action. A local police officer recommended the measure, as one of the stores hit was very close to his own. Petrush told KVOA.com that the suspects had previously used a vehicle to ram into a store, leaving open areas vulnerable.
“Knowing they didn’t use a vehicle the first time they robbed me, there’s still open areas,” Petrush said, adding that his store had been broken into several years earlier and he still carried a bullet from the incident.
This is the @NSSF-supported FFL Protection Act, the #NSSF’s legislative component of #OperationSecureStore RT Graham reintroduces bill imposing harsher penalties for gun theft https://t.co/uGmpUOJBpg @ATFHQ #ATF
The suspects used a vehicle to ram into Elite Guns and Ammo on Oct. 5, where they stole multiple firearms, according to KVOA.com. The store’s owner, Aaron Herman, told the station he was “done” with the situation and expressed a desire to close his business.
“I’d love to get rid of all of it and probably try to go out of business before the year’s out,” Herman said, reflecting the growing frustration among gun store owners facing frequent break-ins.
The burglaries have drawn the attention of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade group for the firearms industry. Mark Oliva, the Managing Director of Public Affairs for NSSF, emphasized the concerning trend of criminals using vehicles to smash through store walls or rip doors off hinges.
“These criminals are determined, often stealing cars, trucks or vans to literally smash through the side of a building or rips the doors of the hinges of retail locations,” Oliva said. “They steal firearms and escape the crime scene in a matter of seconds to minutes, before law enforcement can respond to alarms.”
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), in 2025 there were 181 burglaries, 531 larcenies and 26 robberies of FFLs, resulting in the theft of 3,163 firearms. The ATF is aware of the trend of planned raids on gun stores to steal inventory, with thieves using fast, destructive methods like ram-rams, smash-and-grabs, and stolen vehicles.
“As you would expect, those guns often move quickly into criminal markets,” said ATF Assistant Director of Public & Governmental Affairs Justin Ward. “ATF agents respond when a theft happens, working with local PDs and sheriffs to investigate and ultimately recover stolen firearms.”
The ATF also highlighted its partnership with the NSSF through Operation Secure Store (OSS), a joint program aimed at strengthening security at gun stores and reducing the chance of a successful break-in. The program includes education, security assessments, and response procedures after a theft.
Possessing a stolen firearm is a federal felony under 18 USC 922, which can result in up to 10 years in federal prison. The same section also makes robbing or breaking into an FFL to steal firearms a separate federal felony.
Source: Daily Caller
