If whoever kicked in Scott Steben's back door and stole the two World War II-era weapons thinks they can use the guns for shooting, they're probably mistaken.

Both weapons, a 45-caliber automatic pistol and a German sub-machine gun, are props for historical displays and war re-enactments and have been adapted to shoot blanks.

"They can make a lot of noise with it, but nothing's going to happen," Steben said Wednesday.

Steben, 47, had returned to his home in the tornado-hit part of north Minneapolis Sunday night after spending the weekend camping in the rain and playing the part of a German soldier in a re-enactment in Farmington. He didn't even know a tornado had ripped through the area.

With no electricity and a large tree down in his back yard, Steben unloaded his gear into a dark house through the front door, then left for dinner with his family. His dogs, a Doberman and an Italian greyhound, were shut in the basement.

When he returned shortly after midnight, the back door was kicked open and the guns, which had been in boxes, were gone. Also stolen were his laptop, a collectible helmet, pouches, belts and other memorabilia. Steben estimated the value at less than $10,000.

A neighbor told Steben that she saw four men loading things into a black van in front of his house.

Police have no suspects in the burglary but it is under investigation. The machine gun was registered with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which will assist in the search for the weapon.

Steben said he doesn't think the weapons will end up on the street. He said there has been a rash of thefts from historical re-enactors in recent months.

"They're pretty clunky," he said of the weapons. "They wouldn't want to carry these 50-pound guns."

PAT PHEIFER