rep9@wyomingnews.com

CHEYENNE - Cheyenne police are searching for the person responsible for stealing an assault rifle from a local home Saturday evening.

Lt. Mark Munari said it was sometime after 4:30 p.m. when the suspect broke into a home somewhere in the 300 block of McFarland Avenue and pilfered a Russian-made AK-47 rifle and 10 magazines, each holding approximately 20 to 30 rounds of ammunition.

Munari said an Xbox 360 gaming system also was taken from the home.

The firearm theft came just weeks after two weapons were stolen from the back of a police SWAT vehicle. Derrick Clark, 19, who police identified as the man responsible for taking the two guns, turned himself in Friday to authorities in that theft case.

"The last thing we want is to have another stolen gun running around," Munari said. "We are asking people to really keep an eye out for us."

Police have already notified all residents in the area of the theft, and detectives think the suspect knew what they were going to steal before breaking in.

"When we get high-profile stolen items like that, we tend to believe the person knew what they were going to take," Munari said. "Really bad things can happen when these things are out and about."

Detective Dave Weese said the suspect probably knew the resident and knew the firearm was inside.

"We think this person knew the guy had the items inside," Weese said. "It is very important for us to recover the gun. It's a powerful weapon, and we don't like those things floating around unattended."

While no suspects have been identified yet, police are asking for the public's help to capture the person guilty of the crime.

"Hopefully this guy will make a mistake and tell the wrong person what he has in his possession," Weese said. "Tips from the public will definitely help."