Bizarre gun theft story

The owner who left his car unlocked is quite stupid for doing so.

The criminal who committed the felony is comparably stupid.

That's in my city. Car burglaries are epidemic here, and too many people are making it easier for the perpetrators by leaving their vehicles unlocked, despite massive public awareness campaigning by the police department.
Just the other night, I was under the hood of my truck with a flashlight checking something. A car turned onto my quiet street, then suddenly accelerated rapidly down toward my house, clearly about to blow past the speed limit. I swept the car with my LED 4-cell as it neared, and it stopped in front of my house. The officer driving the now-obvious marked patrol unit told me he'd seen my flashlight beam and thought he might have a chance to catch a car burglar. I responded to him that I'd thought he was on my street to race. We both thought it was kind of funny, and he went on about his business. I think it was pretty clear to him I was one of the "good guys".. (I was even wearing a T-shirt plastered with images of an ambulance and helicopter on it.)

Have to side with the car burglar on this one.

Peculiar . . . a thief leaving public service announcements? And he knew where the owner lived, yet. This could have turned out a whole lot worse.

Makes me wonder if the 'thief' wasn't someone who recognized or knew the gun owner, was not a thief at all, but just wanted to leave the guy a message. Bad way to do it, but I'm sure it will sink in.

I'd put a big "thank you" note on the car for a couple days. wow

My bet is that the gun was in plain sight, and a concerned passerby noticed it. There is surely more to this story than we read here. I mean, this isn't a burglary in the normal sense, as no offense was committed, but someone at the paper must think the story reads better that way. Who wants to read a story that says "Normal Human Exercises Common Sense?"

Probably some do-gooder trying to teach him a lesson. I am really surprised that he reported the details of the return, at least the part about the note.

Maybe the thief wasn't a thief at all and was trying to send a message to the gun owner...

The thief broke a few laws and is still at risk of arrest/conviction.

I'm not familiar with any law that the stupid gun owner violated. Maybe someone could cite one?

what's to stop someone finding the returned belongings on the owners doorstep? here we go again, followed you home after you dropped these at this guy's house, leaving a note 'you are stupid'.

The owner's address was probably on something in the car.

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I'm assuming the car was in his driveway /home since the article said "he went to go back inside his front door"

What's more stupid than leaving a loaded pistol in an unlocked car? Stealing a loaded pistol from the car and leaving it unsecured with a snarky note about stupidity.

I would, without hesitation, sign a complaint against the person who stole the pistol - whether or not I made it easy for the thief.

Leaving the firearm unsecured is not smart. Stealing a firearm is a crime.

After watching the story again the circumstances really seem to indicate a neighbor or acquaintance of the gun owner did it on purpose...

Some here keep calling the person who moved the gun a thief or burglar. Why do you think that?

I imagine that theft wasn't the motive at all in this case. I think someone was trying to teach this guy a lesson. Perhaps a neighbor knew how he stored his guns? A friend who wasn't happy with it? A person walking by who saw it? Who knows...

But, that behavior is far too thought out for your average thief, and doesn't smell of a criminal motivation. Also, the news is sometimes inaccurate in their reporting. From the way the article is written it sounds like the vehicle was parked outside. In Colorado that incident would not be a "burglary", though perhaps it is in Florida.

Still, having investigated hundreds of burglaries, and theft from motor vehicle cases, I'm going to wager that this was not a criminal in the sense that the article is implying.

By the way, I agree that this guy was stupid: leaving your gun in an unlocked vehicle that is accessible to the public. Really?

The criminal who committed the felony is comparably stupid.

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There's really no felony on the basis of what was described (based on the laws here in CO). If a person walked by, picked the gun up out of the unlocked vehicle, then placed it on this guy's porch with a note to him, there is no felony. Perhaps a misdemeanor theft for the ammo, but that's about it. If the person had stolen the gun, and if the gun was worth more than $1,000, a felony could apply. Similarly, if the person had actually entered the vehicle, then a Criminal Trespass could apply. Otherwise, not much going on here. Only way to really turn this into a burglary was if the car was parked in the "victim's" garage at the time that the item was removed from the vehicle.

...calling the person who moved the gun a thief or burglar...

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Cute. I'd like to be called 'the person who moved the cash' rather than a thief!! I didn't steal it, I moved it from their bank account to mine.

Okay though, to answer your question... maybe he/she is being referred to as a burglar because that's how the press and more importantly, the police, are referring to them.

From the story...

A burglar in Port St. Lucie may have...

...police say the burglar could still face armed burglary and theft charges.

The theft happened in 2700 block of...

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So... why did you question the use of those terms?

The owner who left his car unlocked is quite stupid for doing so.

The criminal who committed the felony is comparably stupid.

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Oh, but you missed the really stupid part. The owner then reported the incident to the cops and the media!!!!

So... why did you question the use of those terms?

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Right, unauthorized entry to the car was a burglary and items were removed and in the possession of a person who did not have permission.

I'm not familiar with any law that the stupid gun owner violated. Maybe someone could cite one?

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Florida law has enough waffling in it that the storage of the gun in an unlocked car may not have actually been illegal, despite the gun being loaded and that the car could have been readily accessed by a minor.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0790/ch0790.htm

2. A person who stores or leaves a loaded firearm within the reach or easy access of a minor who obtains the firearm and commits a violation of subparagraph 1. commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083; except that this does not apply if the firearm was stored or left in a securely locked box or container or in a location which a reasonable person would have believed to be secure, or was securely locked with a firearm-mounted push-button combination lock or a trigger lock; if the minor obtains the firearm as a result of an unlawful entry by any person; or to members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, or State Militia, or to police or other law enforcement officers, with respect to firearm possession by a minor which occurs during or incidental to the performance of their official duties.

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You would expect a car to be locked, yes?? I dunno. I guess that would vary depending on the location.

That's not burglary nor theft, unless he/she stole (kept) something else.

...you missed the really stupid part. The owner then...

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Indeed!

That's not burglary nor theft...

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The law enforcement agency investigating this incident couldn't disagree more. That, in and of itself, might trump any of our opinions, right?

I think the bigger take-away point from all of this should probably be the point we focus on the most:

DON'T LEAVE YOUR LOADED GUN IN AN UNLOCKED CAR THAT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.

Obviously the person who took the gun out of the car didn't intend to steal it. Under the law in most places this incident would NOT be a theft. Under the laws of my state this situation would NOT be a burglary. And, unless the person actually entered the car, it would NOT be a 2nd Degree Criminal Trespass (a felony charge here that covers trespass issues to motor vehicles, among other things).

CoRoMo said:

The law enforcement agency investigating this incident couldn't disagree more. That, in and of itself, might trump any of our opinions, right?

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Without reopening that story again on my computer, I thought the LE agency said something like charges "might" apply. That's sort of the standard canned answer when talking to the news. And, believe me, the news is notoriously inaccurate in their reporting of MANY crimes (ask me how I know this). It's quite possible that the news talked to a PIO (Public Information Officer) with the local PD, rather than the officers who were actually knowledgeable about this situation.

Regardless, nothing points toward theft as a motive in this crime, and the item wasn't actually stolen (save for some bullets, I suppose).

I pasted a quote from the article in post #18. I was surprised that they used the term 'armed burglary'.

Without even knowing WHO committed the crime, I can't figure out how their intent is 'obvious', but I'll yield to your known expertise here.

LOL! That is hilarious! Well hilarious on the "suspected" burglars part, pretty stupid on the owners part. I agree and have to say it sounds like the work of someone who knew the owner and was teaching him a lesson. True burglars are cowards and wouldn't be bold enough to do something like that. Plus showing concern for kids in the neighborhood? I think this guy was duped by a friend. Just shows you how dumb the owner is.

Some burglars expect the job to be a challenge. Make it too easy for them, they feel insulted. That's why I always try to remember to to take my keys and lock the door. Don't want to hurt the sensitivities of a hard working thief.