Prop gun used by John Wayne stolen from Portland, Oregon, store
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Store surveillance video is said to show the suspect who police say stole two prop guns from a Portland, Ore., store. (KPTV.com)
Where’s "The Duke" when you need him?
Police say video surveillance captures a suspect taking two prop guns, one used by the iconic actor in a movie, from a film memorabilia store in Portland, Ore., KPTV.com reported.
"That just doesn’t seem right," Sgt. Pete Simpson said, according to the Willamette Week, when asked if someone really stole Wayne's gun.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The suspect appears to linger in the store for 25 minutes and opens a case holding the guns, police said. He reportedly takes the guns to a back room and tucks them under his loose T-shirt.
Given the gun's former owner, one would think the suspect would take off on horseback. Instead, he opted for a mountain bike.
"I'm just hoping, praying, that somebody out there knows who this person is and will let us know so we can get our items back,” Michael Clark, the owner of the store, told KPTV. “It would mean so much to me to have to have both of them here.”
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Local reports did not indicate the guns' value, but Clark said he’s offering a reward, no questions asked. Crimestoppers is offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
The prop gun was described by KPTV as a Winchester rifle and was used by Wayne in the 1962 movie "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." The other prop gun was used by actor William Holden in the 1969 movie "The Wild Bunch."
"These are all part of the store," Clark said. "And if it's violated me and it's violated the staff, then it's violated our customers as well. And that's the sad part, is that one bad egg coming in here and doing this to hurt us."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}