Found stolen goods?

[improperlyaged]

Today my dad was mowing his yard when he found an empty Bushmaster case with 3 empty mags in it. He called me and I came over to see it. I don't own an AR at all and so was quite puzzled. He found it in an 2 foot area that goes between his garage and the fence. I looked at it and realized that the mags were .308 twenty round mags, they looked brand new. No gun, just mags and the case. We called the police and they came and picked it up, saying that they would keep it in evidence in case someone comes to claim it. My thoughts on this is that someone stole the rifle and dumped the case and mags cause they thought they weren't worth anything.

 

[allaroundhunter]

I don't think they were stolen.... I'm not sure of many people who would steal a gun and then think that the magazines weren't worth anything. If it is in a gun case, then most thieves know that there is money to be made.

 

[justice06rr]

I agree that's very odd... Why would anyone leave the case and three mags?

If your dad is not a shooter, you could've taken the rifle case from him and used it yourself. Then sell the mags separately. I doubt it'll do any good turning those into the authorities anyway; the gun/rifle is more important, the case and mags are accesories only which are not significant IMO.

 

[Lost Sheep]

Today my dad was mowing his yard when he found an empty Bushmaster case with 3 empty mags in it. He called me and I came over to see it. I don't own an AR at all and so was quite puzzled. He found it in an 2 foot area that goes between his garage and the fence. I looked at it and realized that the mags were .308 twenty round mags, they looked brand new. No gun, just mags and the case. We called the police and they came and picked it up, saying that they would keep it in evidence in case someone comes to claim it. My thoughts on this is that someone stole the rifle and dumped the case and mags cause they thought they weren't worth anything.

Einstein once said, "There are only two things that are infinite. The Universe and human stupidity. I am not absolutely certain about the universe."

Thieves are not know for their forethought. But to toss a gun bag with magazines essential for operation of the gun is just plain crazy, unless when they stole the bag, there was no gun in it. Or it is not stolen at all, but just lost by an absent-minded owner who might have left it on top of his car?

In any event, if it is not evidence in a crime and left unclaimed, I believe most found property can be claimed by the finder after a waiting period set by local statute.

Lost Sheep

 

[shiftyer1]

2 foot area? I'd say it's stashed not ditched.

 

[rondog]

Found in a 2 foot space between a garage and a fence? Area accessable by foot, yet not really visible to everyone? Yeah, I'd say stolen, and probably from very close by, like a neighbor. That didn't fall off somebody's car roof. It was placed there to get rid of it. Most likely stolen by someone that only equates gun=money, not gun+magazines=money. They probably didn't know what the mags even were.

Just as a long-shot WAG, is there a neighbor's driveway next to that fence? I suppose it COULD be possible that someone put it on top of their car, and pushed it too hard to where it fell off the other side of the car and over the fence, and they didn't notice it. Have to either be in a big hurry or a big dumbass to do that though, but stranger things have happened.

 

[rhinoh]

You did the right thing turning it in. For all you knew it could have been important evidence.

Any suggestions you just keep it and not turn it in, seem completely wrong to me, and that kind of thinking is one of the things seriously wrong with this country today.:banghead:

Besides you most likely can eventually get it back from the police, if it isn't evidence, after a waiting period. You will have to pursue that though, they probably aren't going to just offer it up.

 

[19-3Ben]

Did you get your fingerprints all over the mags? Or did you leave them undisturbed so that the cops can get clean prints from whoever may have left them there?

 

[Sentryau2]

If that happened in my area I would have just kept them. Cops around here have sticky fingers and evidence tends to go missing....alot. I had a friend be told he had to turn a rifle in for evidence (dont we all love false accusations) Turns out he was not guilty (surprise) he requested the rifle be returned to him..........they say it was not cleared to be released. So now 6months later its still not cleared to be released. The guy who was accused of (and found innocent) of a crime got his gun back the next week.

The guy may have thought he had a whole rifle and instead he only had a few magazines lol

 

[kyhunter]

Did you get your fingerprints all over the mags? Or did you leave them undisturbed so that the cops can get clean prints from whoever may have left them there?

The event they will be fingerprinted is about a million to one.

 

[19-3Ben]

The event they will be fingerprinted is about a million to one.
__________________

Probably true. good point.

 

[TexasRedneck]

I love the twisted justifications for keeping it. Sorry - if it isn't mine, it isn't mine. Might the cop keep/steal it? Maybe in your world - but even if he did, it's on him, NOT me.

Some of us live to a higher standard, I suppose.

 

[Al Thompson]

I'll call this one "asked and answered".