3 men rob Harker Heights pawn shop; $10K reward offered for information

HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas - The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) are offering a reward for information in the armed robbery of a Harker Heights pawn shop Saturday afternoon.

ATF says three black males walked into The Pawn Palace on E. Central Texas Expressway around 3 p.m. Nov. 16 while the store was open. Once inside, they brandished firearms and pointed them at several employees. 

"They came in and brandished their guns, pointed them at everybody, had everybody comply with their wishes,” said ATF Special Agent Nicole Strong.

They smashed display cases and stole 29 firearms, primarily handguns, jewelry, and cash. ATF says the suspects were all wearing masks and hoodies and fled in a small grey or silver SUV. No injuries were reported.

The incident sounds similar to a pawn shop that was robbed a day later in Austin.

“I don't know if it's connected at all. We aren't ruling anything in or out and are looking into it,” said Strong

One suspect was wearing a black-and-red hoodie and another had a black-and-white hoodie.

According to Strong, there are three scenarios of what can happen to these guns.

“They (the suspects) will use those to further their criminal enterprise meaning they may use them to commit more crimes or other burglaries and robberies. They can also sell them on the black market because the guns will not come back to them because they didn't purchase the firearms or they could trade them for property or drugs,” said Strong.

ATF and NSSF are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to the identification and/or arrest of the three men.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact ATF by phone at 1-888-ATF-TIPS, by email at ATFTips@atf.gov, online or via the Reportit® app, available on both Android and iPhone.