ROGERS -- Authorities don't believe an officer was targeted when an AR-15 rifle and other items were stolen from an unmarked car, Police Chief Hayes Minor said Tuesday afternoon.
The rifle and other items were stolen around 2:50 a.m. Tuesday while the vehicle was parked at a detective's home, Minor said. Minor didn't release the detective's name or the address where the items were stolen.
There were no other similar reports in the area, Minor said.
"There's nothing that suggests that the suspect targeted the police vehicle," Minor said. "It's an unmarked car used by a detective."
Rogers police started an investigation around 6:50 a.m. Tuesday when the officer noticed a door ajar on the unmarked vehicle when he went to report for duty. The vehicle was parked at the officer's home in the southeast part of the city, according to a news release.
Police have video of the incident, but a heavy fog Monday night impacted the images from the surveillance video, Minor said.
"The fog last night destroyed the quality of the video," Minor said. "It looks like a snow storm is going on outside."
The video shows the outline of the vehicle and a person's shape and also when the interior dome light in the car came on, Minor said.
Items reported stolen include:
• A Bushmaster AR-15 patrol rifle with three loaded magazines;
• A bullet-resistant vest in a black vest carrier with "Police" patches on the chest and back;
• Two loaded magazines for a Glock 17 9mm pistol;
• One set of Smith and Wesson handcuffs;
• One small flashlight;
• One 5.11 brand dark gray shoulder bag with various medical supplies inside.
Police want to recover the stolen items, but Minor stressed the importance of finding the AR-15.
The detective remains on duty, Minor said.
"We have a policy that dictates the storage of weapons when off duty," Minor said. "Part of our review will be to determine whether the policy was followed."
The investigation into the stolen items is ongoing. The investigation also will try to determine how the vehicle was entered by the suspect.
Anyone with information can call Rogers police at 479-621-1172.
NW News on 08/17/2016