I don't know what the threshold is for BATFE to jump in on burglaries of FFL establishments. In my neck of the woods it seems like they involve themselves in any incidents where more than one firearm is swiped from a store.
But then neither they nor the local police ever offer a description, w/serial numbers, of the stolen firearms. Maybe it wouldn't help, but it surely couldn't hurt. It's like they only want to solve the case if the public is excluded from helping.
you are right Brian, ATF will come when there is a FFL break-in then move on leaving it to the locals...but two back to back will bring gaggles of agents with their fine toothed combs to see what is going on, e.g., thefts coverup hidden stock, misrepresented stock, who might owe money, A&D nice and tight, review recent customer sales to include personal contact, ad nauseam...
i found out the hard way, when firearm(s) were 'borrowed' from my vehicle, so i personally ping'd every pawn shop in the stolen area w/serial numbers thanks but then told they have no way to check for stolen firearms except through the local LE contact. further investigation revealed
ONLY the nice LEs per se, can check the FBI's stolen firearm computer database which i find incredulous.
i even sent the 10/22 rifle's s/n to the SC LEs when they recently confiscated a large cache of firearms of dubious ownership. didn't hear back anything.
ipse