Loaded gun stolen from Camano Island cop car

[ACBMWM3]

CAMANO ISLAND, Wash. - Island County Sheriff's deputies are looking for a loaded rifle stolen from the back of a deputy's cruiser.

Sheriff Mark Brown says someone broke into a parked cruiser in front of the deputy's home on South Camano Island between 11 Friday night and 7 Saturday morning.

The thief took a Smith and Wesson AR-15 rifle, a police-issued laptop, a cell phone and a camera.

Sheriff Brown says the deputy had secured the weapon properly, in another locked piece of equipment within the car. He says the other equipment was also secured properly and the deputy did nothing which violates departmental policy.

"It's very disturbing that someone would be this brazen," Brown said. "The rifle was inside of a locked compartment inside the patrol car."

Brown won't reveal the exact location of the break-in, but says it's in the same general vicinity where he believes teen burglar Colton Harris Moore broke into several homes. Moore is still on the run.

"Colton Harris Moore is certainly a suspect," Brown said. "He's not in custody. This is an area he has frequented in the past, beyond that I don't want people to dial in or focus on one individual."

The items are worth roughly $6,000.

Brown says the burglar will face multiple felonies for the crime, if found.


http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_062009WAB-camano-island-burglary-KS.d39e51e.html?rss

Sounds just like what happened at the capitol building.

 

[yeti]

They got an AR out of a VT. Staties trunk, parked in his driveway about 6 months ago. Doesn't happen often, least up here, but it makes the news when it does.

Course that isn't as funny as the VT. State Cop who got a ticket for doing 133 in his cruiser.

A Vermont State Police Trooper has paid a $1,000 fine for driving at excessive speed.
Rutland Herald:
A State Police investigation determined that Trooper Michael Studin drove an unmarked, high-performance State Police vehicle on Interstate 91 in Rockingham at a speed of 133 mph Oct. 29, 2008.

That is the entire article, but the comments are hilarious.http://rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090508/THISJUSTIN/905089967/

 

[oron]

Denver P.D. -01-
Officer left whole M-4
Outdoor bag on hood, at home.
Guess what? Bye Bye.
Loved to heared that explenation.

 

[Erik M]

I get the feeling that the cop that got in trouble for doing 133mph wouldnt have even recieved a repremand if the media hadnt got involved.

 

[Acera]

I get the feeling that the cop that got in trouble for doing 133mph wouldnt have even recieved a repremand if the media hadnt got involved.

I agree, cops will cover up for other cops when they break the law on a regular basis around here. They use terms like "Professional Courtesy" to sooth their conscience.

 

[dullh]

Geez, the media wants to blame the "gun show loophole" for all these guns falling into the hands of criminals - what about the "I'm a cop and I knowingly left firearms in my car so someone could steal them" loophole? Close that one first.

 

[StuntHeavy]

Makes me wonder.... Is there any type of way to open the trunk from inside of the drivers compartment (such as a button or latch like on some orther vehicles)? If so, I wonder if the doors were unlocked, and they accessed it that way.

 

[rscalzo]

wonder if the doors were unlocked, and they accessed it that way.

Ignition must be on.

With all the comments from those that know, where would you suggest the standard patrol rifle be stored when out of the vehicle? Or would the operator not be allowed to leave the vehicle? Maybe carry it when exiting the vehicle form any reason? Unless you have a bettor solution, the comments are invalid. Leaving a firearm on the roof of a car is quite different than property storing it in a truck and having it stolen. Maybe the club member who recently left the firearm on the roof and drove off dropping it in the street should have had legal action taken against them?

 

[StuntHeavy]

Is the 'ignition must be on' a police-vehicle thing? Because I know in my Grand Prix (electronic button), and all my Honda's and Acura's (cable operated) that this was not the case. Either way.... thats not a half bad idea, for anyones car.

 

[dullh]

Cop or not, leaving guns in an unattended vehicle is a bad idea, no matter where it's parked.

 

[Blue .45]

Back in May, a Chicago police officer was involved in an accident, while responding to a burglary call. Someone stole the gun from his holster, while he was unconscious.

Fortunately, the thief was later captured and the weapon was recovered.

http://www.chicagopersonalinjurylawyerblog.com/2009/05/chicago_police_officer_critica_1.html

http://www.officer.com/web/online/Top-News-Stories/Gun-Stolen-from-Unconscious-Chicago-Officer/1$46903

None of us should underestimate how opportunistic the new breed of lowlife has become.

 

[more forty fives]

Orlando FL police chief had her weapon stolen from her car in her drive.And two other officers had there guns stolen from there cars in the last 3 or 4 months.

 

[danprkr]

Imagine how much LEO firearms would be targeted if there was a ban, and they were the only source.

 

[jerkface11]

Is the 'ignition must be on' a police-vehicle thing?

It must be I've never seen a car that required it but then I don't spend much time in cop cars. That or the guy who said it is full of crap but what are the chances of that on the internet?

 

[rickomatic]

Don't forget to put our future Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowski on this hit parade. He had his duty .40 cal stolen out of his police car a couple years back. It's time we forget about the "gun show loophole" and start concentrating on the "cop car loophole."

 

[t165]

Come on guys...LEO's are only human. Mistakes happen. Nobody wants a firearm falling into the wrong hands unless it is the far right extremists of the 2nd Amendment who believe criminals and the mentally ill should have access.

And I'm not saying leaving a firearm in an automobile is a smart thing to do. I left a Model 10 S&W in my glove box overnight several months ago. A passenger left the back window cracked about 3-4 inches while smoking and the thief unlocked the door because I forgot to roll it up. My stupid mistake. I admit it, I WAS STUPID! Worse than the loss of the gun I don't know if some kid got the damn thing or not. I hope the theif got scared and threw it in the river.

Getting into a car or trunk of a car is very simple. Popping a trunk takes nothing more than an old bumper jack. Set the base on the bumper and slide the hooked part under the lip of the trunk lid and ratchet it a few times. The trunk will pop open. And it is not really all that loud. Devices which run the range of wireless entry devices will open doors and trunks. Software which when mated with the proper keymaking device will give you copies of both the ignition and door keys of vehicles by simply entering the 17 digit VIN of the vehicle. My family owns a used car lot and we get extra keys made all the time. We have never been told "no" nor has anyone ever questioned us why we need the keys made. We just hand the parts personel the VIN and pay for our new keys. And there are many more ways. Some sophisticated and some crude.

LEO's are not immune from being victims of crimes. I was constantly being assaulted while on the job. Screamed at, cursed at, hit, kicked, threatened...and then some joker drives by and yells "I smell bacon" and the group of people you are trying to settle down laughs at you "it's funny now but I wasn't laughing at the time". The job doesn't really pay enough...and here I am on the verge of jumping back into it because the car business sucks so bad. Damn economy!

 

[rickomatic]

Come on guys...LEO's are only human

And that one "human" that I referenced is one of the high and mighty ones who wants to curtail my rights and has the mindset that LEO's are more responsible than us commoners when it comes to firearms. I was simply pointing out the hypocricy.

 

[t165]

Yeah rickomatic...I do agree with you there. But this guy is a politician...or at least a political buttkisser. Most LEO's I know are pro 2nd Amendment. And law enforcement is blue collar work...low pay and treated as a doormat like everybody else devoid of wealth or status.

 

[ACBMWM3]

Don't forget to put our future Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowski on this hit parade. He had his duty .40 cal stolen out of his police car a couple years back. It's time we forget about the "gun show loophole" and start concentrating on the "cop car loophole."

Ha ya that was funny because a week before that he used Seattle tax payer money to throw an anti gun benefit where he stated that people need to not leave there weapons in the car haha.
What an idiot.

 

[Yo Mama]

"The rifle was inside of a locked compartment inside the patrol car."

I call BS. Or was it a CA approved lock! I had to.

Mistakes happen.

Except when it's you or me. Then it's called liability.

 

[rickomatic]

Yeah rickomatic...I do agree with you there. But this guy is a politician...or at least a political buttkisser. Most LEO's I know are pro 2nd Amendment. And law enforcement is blue collar work...low pay and treated as a doormat like everybody else devoid of wealth or status.

Agree 100%. One of my best shootin' buddies is a 30+ year veteran County Sherrif's Deputy. There is definately a difference between the rank & file, and the "brass"

 

[t165]

Me too Yo Mama. If the person who stole my handgun uses it in a crime and someone gets hurt I may very well be held responsible for not securing the handgun. And the thought that due to my "careless stupidity" a kid may have stole the revolver makes me very uncomfortable. It is not uncommon for unsupervised children, even young children, to roam the streets at night getting into mischief. I did not lie about what happened...and I do feel responsible. A thief is a thief and as a owner of firearms "I" should have been more responsible.

Actually a LE Department is much more apt to get sued than a private individual over a stolen/lost firearm...the various government entities have much deeper pockets in most instances. It isn't that the taxing unit cares one whit about the individual officer...they just want to protect themselves from a large payout. Whenever a lawsuit is threatened (Tort Claim), for whatever reason, the incident is always turned over to the taxing units liability insurance carrier...at least in my experience. They will often pay an out of court settlement even when they feel they are not burdened with liability. It's just cheaper to settle while not admitting liability in many instances.

 

[TCOV]

I keep a handgun in my vehicle and don't worry about it too much. Usually there's no paper work to trace and my belief is that if they don't steal mine they will steal someone else handgun. It seems like every week you read about a LE losing their gun. If they can lose theirs how can I worry about mine. If you have a theft report it and you should be OK. Seattle Police Chief lost his in an unlocked car and it still hasn't been found. No problem for him.

 

[rondog]

Silly me. I thought long guns for PD's were required to be kept in a weapons room at the Cop Shop. Never thought about them being in the officer's possession all the time.

 

[Funderb]

when only the police have guns, i wonder where the bad guys will get theirs..... huh...