CLARK COUNTY, Wash. — Authorities say thieves made off with 12,000 rounds of ammunition from a decommissioned military base in southwest Washington that now serves as a training ground for the FBI and other law enforcement agencies.
The theft was discovered on January 15 at Camp Bonneville, a former U.S. Army base that has been repurposed as a remote shooting range. According to Clark County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Skidmore, burglars broke into a storage shed on the property by cutting through padlocks and latches. The stolen ammunition included 9mm and rifle rounds, all reportedly belonging to the FBI.
The theft went unnoticed for nearly two weeks since deputies had last visited the facility. The incident was first reported publicly on Friday by The Columbian newspaper.
FBI and Local Law Enforcement Impacted
While the FBI had stored the bulk of the stolen ammunition, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office also reported the loss of several staple guns and paper target sheets. However, no other equipment or materials were reported missing.
A spokesperson for the Portland FBI office declined to comment on the case, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Camp Bonneville, located east of Vancouver, was used for decades by the U.S. Army as a rifle range and training site before it was closed in 1995. Since then, it has been leased by both federal and local law enforcement agencies for firearm training exercises.
Investigation Ongoing
Authorities currently have no suspects and are asking for the public’s help in the case. Sgt. Skidmore confirmed that the investigation is active, but did not disclose any leads or surveillance footage related to the incident.
The stolen ammunition raises concerns about public safety and the potential for such large quantities of rounds to end up in the wrong hands. Officials have not commented on whether security procedures at Camp Bonneville will be updated in the wake of the breach.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.
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