Beyond Angry

[Zero_DgZ]

Well, for the second time in my life I've unintentionally (and under great protest) found myself in contact with the criminal element, this time by proxy, and had firearms stolen from me.

I figure three strikes and I'll be out.

This time, my girlfriend let a particular slimeball (I vaguely know who he is, and have two pictures of his face, phone number, &c.) into my apartment without my permission, and then left him unattended while she busied herself in the bathroom for a good 10-15 minutes. Said slimeball broke into my closet and stole two of my pistols - the ones that weren't locked - and then vanished.

Naturally I reported this to the local police and an officer came by to collect evidence and take a statement, which was fine. This particular officer (Knapp, his name was) was courteous and professional, took all the info I had (serial numbers, two pictures of this creep's face off of his Myspace, his Myspace address and phone number, and photos of the guns stolen) and everything with that went just fine.

So my phone rings while I'm on the highway to DE, taking my (very likely soon to be ex-) girlfriend to work. It's the police, they want us to come back for an interview with one of their detectives, which I promise to do as soon as I drop her off.

So I do.

And this guy, Detective Quinn, does not strike my fancy at all. We go to a little interrogation room and we exchange cards, then he gets down to business: Trying to paint me to be the Bad Guy. "What kind of gun is this," he asks me, poking my photograph of my stolen PX4 with his pen. I answer, and he asks me "How many does it hold?"

Uh. Seventeen, just like it says on the box. This next one gets my goat: "What are you doing with high capacity magazines?"

I hold my toungue. "They come with the gun, I don't have a choice."

"Did you buy this after the ban?"

"The PX4 didn't even appear on the US market until after the ban expired."

He then goes on to ask me about my other guns. One Storm carbine, an AR-15, two shotguns, and my Kel Tec. "Why do you have all these guns?"

"For self defense, targets, the usual."

Then he leans over and says, "You don't need these guns for target shooting."

I had to try really, really hard not to snap in his face at this point. Then he went on to say that by living in Coatesville and having the audacity to (legally) own guns I was a criminal and just "supplying the streets with weapons." He told me I don't "need" a carry permit, and that I didn't "need" any of my guns.

Frankly, I was a little miffed at this point. We'll see what develops from here.

 

[1911 guy]

Complaints and replacements.

First, file a complant with the P.D. about the jerk. To reinforce the point, ask to speak with the first guys supervisor and commend him on the courtesy and proffessionalism he displayed.

Secondly, why is your GF letting people into your apartment? Time for a serious chat or a replacement GF, IMO. Possibly both.

 

[K-Romulus]

chain rattling?

Could be he was checking you out to be sure you didn't actually "(wink) lose (wink)" your two pistols.

Or, maybe he really believed what he said.

Or, maybe he is "one of us" and wanted to see what you would say to his questions as a way to get a sense of the sort of person you are (see possible #1).

 

[Steel Talon]

You law abiding Evil gun owner you!

Sorry to hear your loss. Gun theft truly does makes ones blood boil, hope you get them back.

Peace
Steel Talon

 

[MacEntyre]

why cooperate?

The detective just told you that you and your guns are the problem, not the bad guy who stole your property. He also told you that he is not interested in recovering your stolen property.

Why should you cooperate further?

I would have terminated the interview, and gone down the hall to visit his boss, and then his boss, and the mayor, until that detective offered an apology and demonstrated zeal for finding the thief.

 

[JohnL2]

Very sorry to hear about your loss.
I hope that you better secure your firearms in the future. If I owned a home I'd definitely have a gun safe.
Have at least a safe for your handguns.
That detective was sharing an opinion he should've kept to himself.

 

[Boom-stick]

Sorry for your loss's, that real eye opening, I didn't think you guys had grief like that over there from the P.D. too?

 

[Smurfslayer]

You're a suspect.

Congratulations. You've managed to go from victim, to suspect. He or they probably suspect you in a "gun running" or other illegal enterprise.

Frankly, you should've told this scumbag to **** with the 'why do you need' business in no uncertain terms, and in the best impression of an angry Drill Sergeant that you could muster.

Don't be surprised if you're contacted again about your current inventory, recent travels, any possible sales or acquisitions of firearms recently, etc.
Might be prudent to speak with a lawyer.

I hope you recover the weapons with no further hassle.

 

[MacEntyre]

Might be prudent to speak with a lawyer.

Excellent advice under the circumstances.

 

[HiroProX]

I'd have told him to can his opinion and just do his job.

What an unprofessional incompetent.

 

[waynesan]

Where did this happen?

Zero_DgZ, Sorry if I'm missing your location but could you tell me what state and city where this happened? Good luck on getting your guns back.

 

[gunsmith]

what waynesan says plus

whats the guys myspace? I'm on myspace and a few others from thr are as well

 

[pax]

She let him into the apartment, but how did he get into your safe?

pax

 

[Creeping Incrementalism]

Zero_DgZ, you think that's bad, I heard of an incident in San Jose, California last year where a guy called the cops because is his place had been broken into. Luckily, his registered AR was locked in a safe. When the police arrived, it somehow came up in the conversation, and the cop seized it on the grounds that "the serial number didn't come up" when he checkd the registration.

Pax, he said the two that weren't in his safe were the ones stolen.

 

[Zero_DgZ]

She let him into the apartment, but how did he get into your safe?

He found the ones that weren't. Two pistols, five more long guns left untouched.

I live on the far end of Coatesville, PA, two streets over from the bridge to Thorndale.

 

[pax]

Zero ~

Sorry, didn't read carefully.

Remiss in failing to add, in my first post: Condolences on your loss, & I hope your property comes home to you safely.

Probably should write a letter -- sent registered/certified mail -- to the dept head detailing both the professionalism of your first encounter with his employees, and the rudeness of your second one. Praises and brickbats, both well deserved. Possibly the second guy was just double checking your story, but it sure rubs against the grain to hear of crime victims bing treated as suspects/criminals simply because the victims are readily available for questioning, while the police haven't yet apprehended anyone else to interrogate.

pax

 

[NoPhilly]

Why was your girlfriend letting (what I assume to be) another man into your apartment?

 

[up_onus]

I believe it a felony to posses a stolen firearm...
I hope they catch an idiot who would steal such a thing...

I may be "off" but I hate to say it was partially your fault.
1) Having a gf that would allow the guy into your apt.
2) Not having the guns secured.....

Good luck, and maybe this will be a good "life lesson".

 

[mnrivrat]

Probably should write a letter

At the very least a letter to the chief - a formal complaint would be a justifiable & appropriate route in my opinion.

You don't need to be victimized twice !

 

[Cuda]

Sorry for your troubles, I hope all turns out ok.


C

 

[Lupinus]

I would have been speaking to his supervisor before setting foot out of the building and filing a formal complaint agianst him.

 

[Robert Hairless]

I wonder if the interview with you was recorded. If so a lawyer might be able to obtain a copy and it might help determine what, if anything, should be done next.

The criticism you're receiving here for not allowing your firearms to be stolen by having an irresponsible girlfriend (keep in mind that I'm a grumpy old rural white male and just don't know any better than to say such things) and/or not locking them away in a safe reminds me a little of some other things I hear from time to time. All guns should be secured with trigger locks: if yours had them, maybe the thief would not have stolen them. All guns should be registered: if yours were registered, the police would have known what you had, wouldn't be suspicious of you, and might be able to recover them more quickly. If you had them disassembled, as is required in Washington, D.C., you could have scattered the parts around your apartment so the thief could not have stolen any complete firearms. And, of course, if you didn't have any guns in the first place they couldn't be stolen, which of course is the real solution to this non-existent problem and difficult for anyone to dispute. A knowledgable thief can open a safe within minutes.

I don't agree with any of the criticism being leveled at you here. Your apartment was sufficiently secure and your firearms were in it, where you have a right to keep them and your other property. No doubt you have kitchen knives in an unsecured drawer: they are potentially deadly weapons, so of course it is equally irresponsible for anyone not to keep them locked in a substantial safe, withdrawing only one knife at a time for immediate use.

Your girlfriend was irresponsible: she gave someone access to your apartment without monitoring him. This someone stole your guns. The next might steal your checkbook and/or bank statements. The one after that might take whatever else there is of value. A simple rule that could be of great assistance to such a simpleton: if you want someone to have free access to your apartment you will give him a key; if you haven't given someone a key you don't want him to have free access to your apartment; anyone who has to knock on the door or ring its bell is someone who must be monitored while within the apartment.

But you really should give some thought to the suggestion about your girlfriend. Do you really want any roommate (I can learn! I can learn!) who lacks basic common sense and survival skills, and who shows no interest in giving your property even minimal protection?

The cop who interviewed you is a hoot. He seems to think that there is still a ban on magazines that hold more than ten rounds. I wonder if he has yet discovered that there no longer is a Fugitive Slave Act. In any event, a law enforcement officer who doesn't know--or care about--the law is nature's most dangerous creature. In my opinion, of course.

 

[ArmedBear]

What was your girlfriend doing in the bathroom while some dirtbag guy was hanging out in your apartment?

Just askin'.

 

[pax]

Robert Hairless ~

Possible some of that might have been aimed at me. Just in case it was, I wasn't being snarky in asking about the safe -- I honestly misunderstood what had happened and needed clarification.

Agree with you on the substance of your remarks.

pax

 

[Phetro]

I may be "off" but I hate to say it was partially your fault.
1) Having a gf that would allow the guy into your apt.
2) Not having the guns secured.....

Whoa there, Chief. Not having the guns secured? You mean you advocate locking up all firearms at home, thus becoming the very thing you bought them to not be (defenseless)?!