Getiing back your stolen gun

[CraZYWiLLiE]

Greetings, Is there a website to see if my gun has been found, cause I know they aint gonna tell me they found it, or was used in a crime.
I had a Colt King Cobra 4 in stainless 357, and a Ruger 10/22 stolen.

 

[tcsd1236]

By "they" I assume you mean Law Enforcement? If you provided them with the serial numbers in your larceny report. why would they not tell you if the weapons were recovered?

 

[morganm01]

In California....

A friends Glock was stolen here is what happened. He got a call saying that it was recovered in another county and was being held as "evidence". They told him nothing about anything. Not even who had it, which was a concern as he had it stolen out of his home. He called the dept every couple of months and was told to wait it out. About 6-9 months later, presto-chango, "come and get it" they said.

 

[ksnecktieman]

Willie? I think you should shop for their replacements. Did you have serial numbers and give them in theft report? How long ago did this happen? IF (big IF) they do turn up it will probably be in connection with another crime. Then they will be evidence, and they will be held until a conviction in that case. In some jurisdictions any gun used in a crime is destroyed,,,, no exceptions. IMHO, the best you can do to recovery is to ask your local pd or sheriff, wichever took your theft report, every month, if there has been any progress on the theft. You will be a pain for them but I imagine they can run the numbers and see if there has been a recovery.

What town were they stolen in?

 

[whm1974]

Keep in mind that the gun could have also been sold to someone
who didn't know that the gun was stolen.

Bill Meadows

 

[keyhole]

"Keep in mind that the gun could have also been sold to someone
who didn't know that the gun was stolen."

"Zactly. I had friend call me the other night to check one he had bought. Came up hot out of a neighboring state. Bummer though, is that it passed thru several other friends before someone checked. I think that once you have reported it, if you had insurance, they will be the ones notified if recovered, as they usually tell the department that they would be the owners then. If you did not have insurance, then the department would, or should notify you. Usually by the time that justice
:banghead: is done, it may be some time. I lost all of mine 20 years ago, and none have surfaced.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I'm happy to say the local LE agencies around here do return any stolen guns they recover.

If you have a friend that is in LE, have him run the serial numbers through the computer every few months. Perhaps when they recover a gun, they enter it into the computer as found or delete the serial number from the database. (I know, wishful thinking)

Also, if your insurance covered the stolen gun(s), the insurance company now owns them.

On the other side of the coin, several years ago, there was a website called isthisgunstolen.com where you could enter the serial number of guns you are/have purchased. I guess it made too much sense, so they shut it down.

 

[keyhole]

Nah, not that it made sense, just the BG's could check themselves, and sink whatever they had. Then just about lost for good.
Of course, it may also be unlawfull, kind of like disclosing warrants. Depends on the state, and local laws.

 

[JohnKSa]

Talked to a fellow at the range one day who had a bunch of guns stolen.

He got nearly all of them back--the police called him as they found them. This happened over a period of several years. He did say that most of them were in pretty poor shape when he got them back.

 

[WonderNine]

Don't they run the serial numbers when they do the instant background check at a gunshop for a purchase or transfer? I always wondered that....

 

[whm1974]

Don't they run the serial numbers when they do the instant background check at a gunshop for a purchase or transfer? I always wondered that....

If you and the seller are in the same state(in most) then you don't need a dealer to transfer
a firearm. Now here in IL both of you have to record each other's FOID number and address.

I'm wondering about this, if I brought a used gun off another gun owner and I thought it was a legal gun but turn out later to be hot did I commit a crime?

Bill MEadows

 

[cfabe]

I dont think you'd have commited a crime if you truly had no reason to believe it was stolen (like buying a $100 kimber would be fishy). But, it would probably be confiscated and returned to the owner.

 

[Crownvicman]

I had a Makarov stolen. I got it back about 3 months later. A cop found it under a dumpster. He said that it was not used in any crime that they could tell, probably because the crooks couldn't find the ammunition to fit.

 

[CraZYWiLLiE]

Thanks for your replys.
As an NRA member, I have 1k of insurance, they even paid me for the gunbelt. I would be happy to pay back the Insurance company if my Colt was recovered.
The guns were stolen from Rio Rancho, New Mexico, USA.
The ammo were reloads, and hot loaded.
I even know who stole them, but the police said they cant search everyone.
They are all crank fiends, and theres a circle of em, about 25 of them spread out in Rio Rancho, sooner or later the guns will turn up, I just want my Colt back.
If I could find another King Cobra, I would buy it, and my holster/belt isnt made anymore.

It would be nice if I get it back, just hope it wasnt used to kill someone.

 

[whm1974]

You know, for most of you it might be a good idea to store most of your guns in more then
one safe. This way if someone does a B&E he doesn't steal ALL of your guns.

Bill Meadows

 

[jimb124]

Stolen guns

This thread has stirred me up again!

Back in September I had four shotguns stolen from my Mom's house. I made the report, with descriptions, serial nos, etc. Two weeks later I found them on a table at the local gun show! Went to the gun show promoter, called the cops, and waited. Police came, gave them the case no. and lo and behold, the computer doesn't show all the info. Apparently someone didn't enter all the data. Anyway, they confiscated only one of the guns and basically said, "Sorry" about the others.

Several weeks went by, got a call from a detective. He says he talked to the perp who had his records showing that he had bought the guns three days before they were stolen from me! Then the detective asked if I had my receipts. No... they were purchased by my father in 1956, '57' and '58 and were gifts to me...and he's been dead since 1989. There was a pause on the line, and then, "That could be a problem, Mr. Brown."

Fast forward to two weeks ago. Same detective calls and asks if I found the receipts. Same reply as before - they were gifts, so no receipts. "Well, Mr. Brown, to be fair, we're going to return the confiscated shotgun back to the other party!" At this point, I ceased being polite and calm and proceeded to let him know what I thought about the situation. I had my guns stolen, I recovered them, the perp had falsified his records, and was laughing at the cops (both city and federal) and was dealing in stolen guns (mine), and that I could see nothing fair about it! Needless to say, I sure didn't make a friend of that detective with my implications that he was doing less than a stellar job (LOL).

...Rant off...

I really hope that you fellows have more efficient police departments than we have here in this fair city. Judging from my experience, serial nos alone are not enough - receipts help (apparently). If I was a dishonest person, I suppose I could have made up some fake receipts and presented them as evidence...but really, fellows, if I had done that I would have had problems sleeping at night. I wasn't raised that way, even though that vato from the south side has my guns. I can only hope that someday he buys some stolen weapons from those crackheads that turn out to belong to some LEOs. Then, when he tries his fake receipts.............

Sorry for the long tirade, and thanks for listening. That's the nice thing about our family here at THR, you'all are good listeners!

Later
Jim

 

[tcsd1236]

JImB. with all due respect, the person with the paperwork is going to have more leverage in proving ownership.It has nothing to do with being more "efficient ". Word of wisdom to all gun onwers: document, document, document. If you dont live in a state with a permit system like mine that lists each handguns serial number on your permit, then you need to keep all receipts, take pictures AND list serial numbers.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

Let me say this about stolen guns please! The rightful
owner getting them back can be a BITCH. Lots
depends on what type of crime (if any) the weapon(s)
were involved in, the judge, the deaprtment of record
(who holds the stolen and recovery reports), as well
as state, county, and city laws and ordinances.

I offer as an example, a friend of mine had his residence
broken into while at work; with a total of 3 firearms
taken. These were classified as "relic's" by the ATF.
Two weeks later, they were recovered by the Cook
County, IL sheriff's department. And its been over
2+ years, and still the weapons haven't been returned;
even though the cases have been cleared.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Hkmp5sd]

the perp who had his records showing that he had bought the guns three days before they were stolen from me!

A good reason to have picture and/or video records of your firearms. Make sure they show a clear shot of the serial number.

 

[whm1974]

I had my guns stolen, I recovered them, the perp had falsified his records, and was laughing at the cops (both city and federal) and was dealing in stolen guns (mine), and that I could see nothing fair about it!

Even if you had the reciepte and other paperwork you may have had a hard time getting any guns back from someone who brought one of your guns from that dealer if he didn't know he
brought a stolen weapon.

A friend at work was telling me about a truck that was brought from a dealer with a bad check. Then the guy sold the truck to someone else in another state. The dealer couldn't get his truck back because the guy in the other who brought the truck didn't know if it was stolen. the guy brought it in "good faith"

I'm assuming this applys to weapons.

Bill Meadows

 

[Fed168]

I recovered a gun that had been stolen about 10 years ago. I promptly calle the guy and let him know and told him to keep calling until I knew when it could be released. They generally are released when the case is disposed of and we can find the owner.

 

[son of a gun]

They actually have a law here in Florida that if a pawn shop unknownly buys stolen property they don't have to give it back to the owner if the property is discovered in there inventory. I tell ya that's a perfect blue print on how to create a "postal situation".

 

[einnor1040]

I had several guns stolen nearly 20 years ago in Miami. The cop that came to do the report started giving me a hard time about having so many guns. They were now on the street and he might get shot with one of them. He thought only cops should have guns. I told him to finish his report and get his arse outta my house. I haven't heard anything about any of my guns.