Juvenile accused of stealing guns from SWAT vehicle charged

BOSTON (MyFoxBoston.com) -- A juvenile accused of stealing two high-powered weapons from a an FBI agent's SWAT vehicle in Andover faces a number of charges.

Officials said the 16-year-old boy was charged with two counts of possession of a large-capacity firearm, two counts of breaking and entering, one count of possession of ammunition, one count of larceny over $250 and one count of larceny under $250 in juvenile court.

Investigators tell FOX 25 a family member of the suspect turned the two guns in to Lawrence officials at about 2:30 a.m. Friday. Authorities used fingerprints taken from a vehicle and the agent's SWAT Suburban to link the teen to the high-powered weapons.

The FBI said a Colt M16-A1 Rifle and a HS Precision Pro-Series 2000 Sniper Rifle were taken from the vehicle between the evening hours of Nov. 6 and morning hours of Nov. 7.

The agent who was responsible for the guns was headed to an operation Thursday. Officials said he had parked his Suburban at his Andover home, but the vehicle was broken into overnight.

The FBI said SWAT members are allowed to store firearms overnight in vehicles. They said all weapons losses are subject to an internal affairs investigation from FBI headquarters to determine if the storage method complied with FBI policy.

"Nobody got hurt, we are thankful for that," said Charles Haseltine, of the Andover police dept.

The 16-year-old was in juvenile court Friday.

A $20,000 reward was expected to be given to a member of the public.

Cox Media Group