21 submachine guns stolen from LAPD SWAT

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Thieves made off with 21 submachine guns and various other weapons from a Los Angeles Police Department SWAT training site last week.

The 21 MP-5 submachine guns and 12 high-caliber handguns had been modified to fire only simulated rounds, but could be converted back to use live ammunition in about five minutes, according to KABC.

Locks on at least three doors had been cut through to reach the weapons.

The guns had been moved to a lock box in the facility Wednesday. By the time officers arrived for training Thursday, the items had been stolen.

The department had only recently converted the former textile building for SWAT training purposes. Although LAPD Deputy Chief Michael Downing claimed the facility was secure, there were no guards, no alarms and no surveillance equiment.

“I guess ‘secure’ is all relative now,” Downing admitted. “It’s embarrassing…. It’s a lesson learned.”

The LAPD said they were “working on leads” and determining if department policies have been violated.

“We’re going to get to the bottom of that, find out what the policy was with respect to these weapons,” LAPD Cmdr. Andrew Smith told KABC.

Watch this video from KABC, broadcast Oct. 17, 2011.