Two Rifles Stolen From Unlocked Baker City Vehicles Recovered In La Grande

Detectives recovered two rifles in La Grande after tracking weapons taken from unlocked vehicles at a Baker City trailer park, police said, but a Taurus 9mm handgun remains missing and charges are expected.

“During the evening hours of January 19, 2026, and the early morning hours of January 20, 2026, two suspects from outside the area traveled to Baker City and unlawfully entered multiple vehicles at the trailer park located at 1695 Auburn Avenue,” the Baker City Police Department reported. At least three vehicles were prowled, resulting in the theft of several items, including three firearms: a Savage .30-06 hunting rifle, an AR-15-style rifle chambered in 7.62mm, and a Taurus 9mm handgun.

Baker City detectives conducted an extensive investigation over the following week and tracked two of the stolen rifles to a location in La Grande. “As a result, detectives, in conjunction with the Northeast Oregon Regional SWAT Team, obtained and executed a search warrant, which led to the recovery of the two rifles,” the department said. Baker City police say the rifles were found inside a car at the La Grande property late Monday afternoon.

Lt. Wayne Chastain of the Baker City Police Department said officers have identified two suspects, both from La Grande, but declined to name them because they had not been arrested as of Tuesday afternoon. “Charges are ‘forthcoming,’” Chastain said. He also said it is not clear why the suspects were in Baker City.

The Savage .30-06 recovered had particular local significance. Chastain said the .30-06 was a family heirloom passed down through multiple generations. The AR-15-style rifle and the Savage represent two of the three firearms reported stolen; the Taurus 9mm pistol remains unaccounted for.

Detectives were initially hampered because firearm owners did not have serial numbers readily available, the department noted. “During the course of the investigation, detectives were also able to obtain serial numbers for the handgun and AR-15 through the firearms dealers who originally sold them,” the department said, a development that helped narrow the search and support the La Grande warrant.

The recovery involved coordination among multiple agencies. In addition to the Northeast Oregon Regional SWAT Team, detectives from the Oregon State Police, the Union County Sheriff’s Office, and the La Grande Police Department assisted with the operation. The investigation remains ongoing, and upon completion the case will be forwarded to the Baker County District Attorney’s Office for review and charging consideration.

For Union County residents, the episode is a reminder of the risks posed by unlocked vehicles. Lt. Chastain encouraged residents to always lock their vehicles, especially overnight, and recommended gun owners keep serial numbers of their firearms so police can more easily track stolen property. With one gun still missing and formal charges not yet filed, investigators say more developments are possible as the case moves toward prosecutorial review.