DE AG Going after Cabela's for Half Million Rounds of Ammo Stolen

[adit]

Let's sue everyone but the thieves run free.

Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings asked the Superior Court to enforce a subpoena against Cabela’s, Inc. over allegations of half a million rounds of ammunition shoplifted from its Christiana location. After more than three months, Cabela’s has failed to substantively respond to the subpoena, according to the state Justice Department.

The DOJ is investigating whether Cabela’s has violated laws, including Delaware’s firearms industry public nuisance law.

The investigation began after reports were received over ammunition being stolen from Cabela’s, which at the time stored rounds unsecured in the middle of the sales floor, with the AG’s office being told that no apparent effort was made to stop massive shoplifting. After the DOJ sent Cabela’s a subpoena, the company relocated ammunition in the Christiana store to an area behind a sales counter.

“In the wrong hands, a single round of ammunition can take a life — but Cabela’s watched a half-million rounds walk out the door,” said Jennings. “Ammo isn’t candy. It shouldn’t be left on a sales floor without a meaningful effort to deter shoplifting. Our team has already gotten results and led Cabela’s to store its ammunition more safely, but our investigation isn’t over. Businesses need to be responsible members of our community; that includes gun dealers taking reasonable steps to prevent gun violence. Unfortunately, Cabela’s casual storage, and their stonewalling of this investigation, tell us that they still aren’t taking that responsibility seriously. We’re asking the court to step in so that we can ensure our neighbors are being kept safe.”

Investigators believe that at least 500,000 rounds of ammunition were stolen from Cabela’s in less than a year — and that a substantial portion of it was sold to drug dealers and other criminals in Delaware and Pennsylvania. Thus far, Cabela’s has failed to promptly or meaningfully respond to the State’s subpoena, according to a release.

DOJ’s investigation explores potential violations of several laws, including but not limited to the Keshall “KeKe” Anderson Safe Firearms Sales Act. The act, passed into law in 2022, is named for KeKe Anderson, an innocent bystander who was killed in a 2016 shooting involving a firearm bought through a straw purchase at Cabela’s. The bill repeals special immunity granted to gun dealers like Cabela’s under state law, making Delaware the first state in the country to repeal a gun industry liability shield.

The Office of Impact Litigation, created by Jennings in 2019, is part of the DOJ’s Fraud and Consumer Protection Division and directs or participates in a number high-profile legal battles, including states lawsuits against pharma and oil companies.

Retailers have been complaining about an increase in shoplifting and a lack of enforcement Retailers have imposed policies that discourage staff from confronting shoplifters, some of whom carry weapons and pepper spray.

Cabela’s is part of a “big box” chain of outdoor equipment stores that also operates under the Bass Pro Shops name. Bass Pro Shops bought Cabela’s and several years ago shuttered its headquarters in Sidney, a small town in Nebraska. Bass Pro Shops is based in Springfield, MO.

Both chains thrived with the help of local government incentives that came from small metro areas eager to see jobs from the massive stores. With no sales tax, Delaware did not need to offer incentives to attract Cabela’s.

A message was sent to Cabel’s-Bass Pro Shop seeking comment on the ammunition issue.

Cabela's under investigation over allegations of shoplifters making off with half a million rounds of ammo - Delaware Business Now

AdvertisementDelware Attorney General Kathy Jennings asked the Superior Court to enforce a subpoena against Cabela’s, Inc. over allegations of half a million rounds of ammunition shoplifted from its Christiana location. After more than […]

delawarebusinessnow.com

 

[rseymorejr]

Blame the victim

 

[basscat]

If a half million slim Jim's were stolen would they be this upset?

 

[6-Pack]

Might as well go after 7-11/Royal Farms too because stolen snacks are making kids fat

 

[Park ranger]

Inside job.

 

[Scottysan]

Karens gone wild! So they're gonna blame the victim, and although they got results, they're not done punishing the company

 

[somd_mustangs]

Inside job.

That makes more sense... Even at a very conservative 20 cents/round, 500k rounds is $10 million loss in "less than a year," or 10,000 50-round boxes, ~30 boxes a day (assuming not all .22). Even the most f'd up store would notice that and do something, one would hope... those numbers just don't sound right. Who made the estimate? ("top men... we have our top men on the job").

 

[RFBfromDE]

Response;

 

[safecracker]

I stopped in there a few weeks ago. All of their ammo is now behind the counter. You need an employee to help you. Total PITA. I figured it was theft related, but had no idea it was this bad. Yeah, probably an inside job.

 

[Trigger Time]

The sad part is that's the same mentality of most Maryland Democrats, it's coming your way soon.
Edit to add:
It's already here as they blamed all the gun shop owners for their stores being blown-up and robed.

 

[teratos]

If Cabelas had called, and the perps arrested, she’d have probably dropped the charges

 

[AlBeight]

I like how they “believe that a substantial portion” of those stolen rounds were “sold to drug dealers and other criminals in DE and PA”. I’m curious how they know that. This wild ass guess/speculation/pearl clutching is the basis for this suit, Cabelas lawyers will demand discovery as to how they arrived at this statement, and with no good answer this case goes away with apologies from the judge.

Maybe.

 

[Scottysan]

That makes more sense... Even at a very conservative 20 cents/round, 500k rounds is $10 million loss in "less than a year," or 10,000 50-round boxes, ~30 boxes a day (assuming not all .22). Even the most f'd up store would notice that and do something, one would hope... those numbers just don't sound right. Who made the estimate? ("top men... we have our top men on the job").

best check that math:
.20 per round x 500k rounds= $100,000
Not an insubstantial amount, but not 10mil
Which would have destituted Delaware

 

[teratos]

best check that math:
.20 per round x 500k rounds= $100,000
Not an insubstantial amount, but not 10mil
Which would have destituted Delaware

Maybe they were stealing .50 BMG and .338LM

 

[Scottysan]

Dang, that would bring the numbers up... alot!

 

[Biggfoot44]

Stolen ammo mostly sold to Philly drug dealers ? Nah

500k rounds randomly shoplifted ?

Hummm . Yeah , retail thefts up generally everywhere . But 500k in less than a year from one store , one box at a time ? That would be non stop shoplifting , opening to closing , every day .

More plausible - someone was dealing cases out the back door .

 

[somd_mustangs]

best check that math:
.20 per round x 500k rounds= $100,000
Not an insubstantial amount, but not 10mil
Which would have destituted Delaware

yeah sorry about that, like Office Space's Michael Bolton I always forget to carry the decimal points LOL.
That's still a shit-ton of boxes of ammo though.

 

[28Shooter]

Delaware AG...you mean the one from the state where the Bidens come from and who did nothing to pursue any charges against them? Lottsa' credibility there!

 

[Scottysan]

yeah sorry about that, like Office Space's Michael Bolton I always forget to carry the decimal points LOL.
That's still a shit-ton of boxes of ammo though.

no worries, my friend.
You're right... they'd still have to shoplift with a forklift or at least a pallet jack

 

[delaware_export]

forgetting the anti 2a victim blaming stuff…

how do retailers, especially big box stores, normally deal with such issues?

is there a dedicated guy in charge if this in each store? Dedicated loss prevention person? The store manager? General flunky?

and surveillance? Recording?

and how often is inventory done to determine loss?

BS laws aside, how was this store manager still in charge? From the excess loss perspective ?

this seems like more than a few drops in the bucket