A pyrotechnics business called Big Sky Fireworks had thousands of dollars worth of equipment and fireworks stolen in Great Falls on Monday.
The Helena-based company conducts fireworks shows across the state.
They had a cargo trailer delivered to Great Falls for Tuesday evening’s fireworks show, and it was broken into on Monday night.
A report that the trailer at West Bank Park was broken into was received at 5:42 p.m. on Monday, according to the Great Falls Police Department.
Leo Curtis of Big Sky Fireworks said that someone used bolt-cutters to cut the lock off of the trailer, and cleaned out the contents.
Curtis says that $21,113 worth of fireworks and equipment was stolen.
Curtis noted, "Well, they didn’t just steal from our company, they stole from the whole city, you know? And they’re very dangerous. They don’t have equipment to fire them. If you fire these off with a match or some gasoline or something, they’re dangerous, that’s all there is to it."
He also said that his company needed to obtain a federal permit to shoot off the fireworks, and said that the theft will be investigated by the federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms.
The fireworks have since been replaced, and Tuesday night’s pyrotechnics show in Great Falls will go on as scheduled.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the GFPD at 727-7688, or Big Sky Fireworks owner Ric Almendinger at 406-465-0815.
