Authorities are on the hunt for a law-enforcement rifle reported stolen early Tuesday from the personal police vehicle of the assistant chief for the San Jose Police Department.
The theft of the long gun, commissioned for use in the department’s MERGE unit — SJPD’s version of SWAT — was reported just before 8 a.m. outside second-in-command Ali Miri’s home in San Jose, according to police and sources familiar with the situation.
An initial investigation determined that the rifle was stored in a mounted safe inside of an unmarked police vehicle. Though the police department did not formally identify Miri by name — referring to the reported theft victim only as a police employee — Miri individually confirmed to this news organization that the vehicle was assigned to him. He did not provide additional comment on the matter.
The vehicle was parked in a driveway when someone broke in and made off with the firearm, which a source described as a short-barrel rifle favored by law enforcement.
No suspect was identified as of Tuesday afternoon, and police said “the investigation is ongoing.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.