HARRISBURG – Police confirmed the antique guns stolen from the National Civil War Museum over the weekend were part of the NRA-sponsored exhibit that recently drew protests.
The guns still work, according to police, but are likely not usable due to the lack of available ammunition for them.
“The items were actually in a case,” Harrisburg police Capt. Gabe Olivera said. “The case was damaged and the three items were removed from the case.”
Police believe the burglary took place around 6 a.m. Sunday, but did not receive any notification about the burglary until early Sunday afternoon.
Olivera confirmed the museum’s security system was originally outfitted to notify Harrisburg police of any criminal activity. That was in place until 2011, when the city cut its emergency dispatch center. Notification from that point on went to the museum’s security instead, he said.
“The building has been fully reviewed by the security company and everything is currently functional in the building,” Olivera said.
The two pistols were on permanent display at the museum, while the rifle was on loan from a private party. They were all guns owned by Secretary of War Simon Cameron, not the piece from Confederate fighter William Quantrill that drew protests at the museum last week.
“These are treasures of the American Civil War related to one of the most prominent statesmen of the era and they’re integral to our interpretive story at the museum,” Wayne Motts, the museum’s CEO, said.
Police say they know they are dealing with one male suspect who broke in, but only described him as tall and thin, their analysis of any other descriptors too inconclusive to say more.
“If we had good facial features, yes,” Olivera said. “Right now we have an individual that could be anyone because their clothing, their dress at that time was not very specific.”
Police would not speculate on any potential motives and are continuing to investigate.
“We can’t limit our investigation to one sole theory,” Olivera said. “We have to investigate them all and we have to eliminate them systematically.”
One of the pistols was a .44 caliber Colt Army revolver with the serial number 11708. The other was a .36 caliber Colt M1861 Navy revolver with serial number 1825.
The rifle is an M1860 factory-engraved Henry Repeating rifle. with serial number 115. “Cameron” is engraved on the receiver.
