Man sought after allegedly stealing rifle from Bensalem Twp. Walmart

We're learning more today about a concerning theft in Ben Salem. Authorities say the man seen in these images stole a rifle from Walmart by providing fake paperwork. It happened on Friday afternoon. Police are still looking for him today. Action News reporter Corey Davis is live in Ben Salem with more on how the suspect got away. Corey. Sarah, investigators are telling me the guy ran out of this Walmart here with the gun after employees gave it to him basically for free. He used a scooter the rest of the way, not an electrical scooter, but one where you use your feet to move forward. Ben Salem police say this guy showed fake paperwork and got away with a hunting rifle from the Horizon Boulevard Walmart Friday afternoon. This absolutely was too easy. It never should have happened. That scooter in his hand would ultimately be how he gets away. But first, they say he puts on a vest after entering the store. goes up to the counter and produces some type of letter that says he has the authority and clearance to take possession of a Winchester 308 rifle the employees consult with each other they weren't sure but ultimately they unlocked the gun and handed it to this individual and removed the tags William McVeigh Ben Salem police public safety director tells me the employees also didn't check his ID and that he didn't pay for the rifle it's a full-blown rifle that people used to hunt so a very dangerous gun in the wrong hands that absolutely should not be on the street McVeigh says the man put the gun in a rifle bag left the store through the garden section ran across Horizon Boulevard before using the scooter the rest of the way probably realized i just got a rifle for nothing and they went for it let me get out of here the manager needs to do better training in this store to all the employees who might have sold him that gun select Walmart locations sell long guns for hunting and sports shooting as well as BB and pellet guns you have to be 21 to purchase any of those they also video record all firearms being sold by employees with special training walmart says they only sell a firearm after a background check is all clear police say it took employees 40 minutes to realize they made a mistake if you're going to sell weapons you need to do it responsibly and that starts with obviously checking someone's identification and going through the proper protocols this missed all those marks i reached Shout out to Walmart asking exactly what they're going to do to prevent something like this from happening in the future. A spokesperson responded to me not long ago with a brief statement saying that safety is the top priority for their associates and customers and that they're working with law enforcement and are taking this very seriously. Reporting live here in Ben Salem, Corey Davis, Channel 6 Action News. Brian, stunning how easily he was able to get that gun. Corey, thank you.