Fall City Gun Shop Owner Foils Early Morning Break-In

Fall City Firearms operates in Fall City, Washington with a security approach that stands out in an industry facing an epidemic of overnight robberies. Owner Lee Stallman maintains on-site overnight personnel specifically for security purposes—a measure that proved its value in real time.

On a Monday morning in September 2023, a thief rammed a stolen vehicle through the front of Fall City Firearms at 4 a.m. Stallman, present in the building, yelled that the location was occupied. The would-be robber fled immediately, leaving with nothing.

This wasn't an isolated incident. The shop had been targeted twice in under two weeks with the same tactic: stolen vehicles used as battering rams during overnight hours. The difference between this location and others hit in the region came down to preparedness.

"Somebody stays here at the gun shop every night for security reasons, and it paid off this morning." — Lee Stallman, Owner

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Seattle Field Division, these overnight smash-and-grab robberies are occurring almost daily across the nation. A nearby shop, Armageddon Arms in Monroe, was hit using the same method and thieves escaped with two dozen firearms—weapons that typically remain in local communities and are used to commit additional crimes.

Fall City Firearms' approach demonstrates why overnight security matters in this business.

• •Firearms retail sales
• •2A apparel and merchandise
• •Hearing protection equipment
• •Firearm accessories and cases
• •Overnight security infrastructure