A $5,000 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons behind the recent theft of 55 firearms from a Bulloch County gun dealer.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms industry, are pairing up to offer the reward, according to a release issued by Nero Priester, public information officer for the ATF.

The guns, valued at more than $25,000, were taken in a burglary either late Wednesday or early Thursday, said Bulloch County sheriff's Chief Deputy Jared Akins. They were stolen from Backwoods Armory on Highway 80 East. Deputies responded to the store around at 10 a.m. Thursday and met with the owner, who said a suspect broke in through a window. The suspect was recorded on video.

"Due to the danger presented by the theft, the (Bulloch County Sheriff's Office) is working with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to solve the crime," Akins said.

"ATF takes this crime very seriously," said Special Agent in Charge Carl Walker. "ATF is committed to preventing firearms trafficking, which is a serious offense resulting in significant federal prison time for those responsible."

Priester said: "The 55 firearms that are unaccounted for pose a potential danger to citizens, communities and quality of life. ATF is soliciting the public's assistance with any information that leads to those responsible for this crime."

Anyone with information on the theft should contact the sheriff's office at (912) 764-1771, submit an anonymous tip to tips@bullochsheriff.com, or contact the ATF Gun Hotline at 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867).