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Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, ATF searching for missing explosives

John Gardner
Post Independent staff
Glenwood Springs, CO Colorado

SILT, Colorado – The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public to be on the lookout for boxes of dynamite that are thought to have been stolen from an area near Silt.

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) is investigating the alleged theft of more than 100 sticks of dynamite.

According to Steve Beggs, special agent of fire and explosive investigations with the ATF in Denver, the type of explosives thought to be stolen come in 55-pound cases. Each case holds approximately 100 sticks of dynamite.



Beggs said that the reporting party discovered that one full box and another box that was partially full, were missing within the past week. A partial spool of detonating cord, used to ignite the explosives, was also taken.

The explosives were taken from a private owner, Beggs said, but didn’t release the specifics of why the owner possessed them or what the explosives were to be used for. However, Beggs said that many types of explosives are used throughout Colorado for mining, gas drilling or other types of industries.



“There are a lot of commercial explosives in Colorado,” Beggs said. “It’s very prevalent.”

Garfield County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Tanny McGinnis said that authorities are asking the public to be on the lookout for anything suspicious. And if anyone has any information regarding the stolen explosives to contact authorities immediately.

“The goal is to let the citizens know that crimes involving explosives are significant, and so, we want to make sure that people have an understanding of what is taking place so they can be diligent,” McGinnis said.

The perpetrators involved in the alleged theft could face several state and federal charges, according to Beggs, including federal felony charges of theft of explosives.

Garfield County Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 on any information leading to the arrest, indictment or recovery of the stolen explosives. Likewise, the ATF is also offering a $5,000 reward for useful information as well.


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