Pistol stolen

[SouthronBoy]

I've read where a number of members here have had a pistol stolen over the years.

I joined that number sometime between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. It was taken from the center console in my truck. The pistol was a nice CZ-82, with extra magazine and cheap holster.

That stinks and all, but my question for the members is, have you ever had a stolen pistol, or long gun, recovered? I'll have the serial number to the police in the next day or so, and I know there's a national database of stolen weapons.

So what's your experience? Once stolen, do they ever come home?

 

[Wopasaurus]

I wouldn't expect it to come home... even if it is recovered....

Sorry about the loss man

 

[VegasOPM]

I've heard of recovered pistols becoming "evidence" but never coming home.

 

[Dustinthewind]

I'm still waiting for my guns to return from a burglary in the early '80's.

 

[FCFC]

I've heard of stolen guns being returned to rightful owner. Hopefully, you'll get yours back.

...a pistol stolen ...I joined that number sometime between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning.

Did someone break into your truck? Was it locked? Alarm?

Why'd you leave it in the truck?

 

[jhco]

i was selling some of my grandfathers guns for him recently, he was a gun dealer many years ago and has much of his inventory left still, but i found one of his index cards that held the guns info that read stolen on xxxx and then in a difernent stlye type (from a type writer) it had returned by lcpd on xxxx.

this was in the 80s and the gun was a hi standard 22 mag derringer. but my point is there maybe hope so good luck

I have heard that most guns that are recovered come from traffic stops and searches of vehicles

 

[SouthronBoy]

FCFC--

As far as I know, the truck was locked. I usually lock it, but who knows? The rookie cop that came out seemed to think that the thieves used a slim jim or something to get in.

The pistol stayed in the truck because I can't carry at work, and when I'm not at work, I'm usually near the truck. I don't make it a habit to carry around the house, or to keep a loaded weapon accessible here, because I've got small children.

Thanks everybody for the kind wishes.

 

[esq_stu]

Report it without delay unless you know there are no penalties for failure to do so.

 

[dalepres]

Man that sucks. While you may not want to drive unarmed but you still should consider even a cheap sub-hundred-dollar gun safe; it will safely store your guns around the children.

Or, one of my favorite rants, a gun in a holster on your hip at home is the safest gun in the house. You always know where it is and you always know the kids don't have it.

 

[jaholder1971]

I've lost a shotgun and a 1911 from car burglaries. It sucks.

 

[.38 Special]

Had a dozen or so taken in a home break-in a decade or so ago. Never seen any sign of them since.

 

[FCFC]

Had a dozen or so taken in a home break-in a decade or so ago. Never seen any sign of them since.

Were they in a safe?

 

[FieroCDSP]

There was a post last year about a Taurus that had been MIA from a theft for numerous years. It was eventually found by a groundskeeper in a mulch bed of a college, rusted to heck, and returned to it's rightful owner by the police.

He cleaned it up, and the thing was still mechanicly sound, but he was looking for a cylinder for it since the chambers were the worst off and possibly not firing-sound.


A small lock-box can be found at almost any gun store. Mine's big enough to hold one full-size pistol, and one mag. It has a steel cable to anchor it to something in the vehicle, and can easily fit under a seat.

I picked one up for my car when I started carrying. It can just barely slide under my passenger seat, and I ran the cable through the seat and along the side, so it's basicly wrapped around the seat's hinge. In my two seater, you can't see it unless you look for it. Short of cutting the cable or opening the lock box, there's no way to remove it.

 

[.38 Special]

Were they in a safe?

Yes. Of course, I'd been monkeying with them prior to going to lunch, and being as I was coming right back to monkey with them some more afterwards, I figured there was no harm in leaving the safe door open.

Which is why I try not to be too hard on other people who occasionally do really stupid things...

 

[FCFC]

... I figured there was no harm in leaving the safe door open.

Which is why I try not to be too hard on other people who do really stupid things...

I've left my safe unlocked 2 or 3 times and left my home. That was pretty stoopid. If someone had broken in and stolen some guns, I would have felt really bad. For the loss of the firearms and for endangering the public unnecessarily.

 

[.38 Special]

Exactly. I felt like an ass for a long time afterwards, and in fact, still feel the same upon retelling it.

The safe gets locked whenever I leave the room, no exceptions. That will not help anyone victimized with a gun I used to own, but I can at least prevent it from happening again.

 

[fatelk]

I had four taken from my truck about ten years ago; two I had the numbers written down, two I didn't.

The officer who took my report called me a couple days later to say they had found my Ballestor Molina (wish it had been the model 29 instead). A punk had it in his car when they arrested him for something else. I didn't have the serial number recorded for it, but he said he remembered "Ballestor Molina .45" from the report and figured it had to be mine.

The detective a talked to when I went in and ID'd it said they would let me know when they were done with it as evidence. 5 or 6 months later I got pulled over by the officer who took the report (late at night, liscense plate light out, looking for drunks). He recognized me and asked if I ever got my gun back. I said no, they hadn't called me yet.

"Oh, no! you can't wait on them to call; you'll never get it back. You have to go down there and bug them."

I had my .45 back the next day.

The others are likely gone for good. I do not like thieves.

On a similar note, a friend of mine had a S&W 9mm taken something like 15 years ago. A couple years ago it turned up two states away, and yes, he did get it back.

I always say gun control begins at home. Lock them up whenever possible so the &$!#@! thieves can't get them. Too bad about your CZ82. It's not a high dollar gun, but I have one and am very impressed with it.

You never know; it could turn up.

 

[MedWheeler]

Taurus Model 66, stolen from my truck in a burglary, in February of 1990. Recovered after drive-by shooting and car/foot chase in November of 1992 (it was not the weapon used in the shooting, just one thrown by one of four suspects being pursued by police.)
Some wear spots in the bluing, and a couple of tiny nicks in the grip, but otherwise unharmed and functional.

 

[.cheese.]

there was a guy here or maybe on GlockTalk that lost a Charter Arms revolver a long time ago.

Years later, it was found buried by the police or something and returned to him!

Sometimes luck can be with you. Don't give up.

 

[chipperi]

Two words of advice get yourself one of these.

and keep a list of all your guns and serial#s in several safe places.

Just wondering since it was a break in if a comprehensive insurance policy would cover the loss.

 

[Defensory]

The problem with the small boxes that are secured only by a cable, is that the cable isn't that hard to cut if you have the right tool.

It's best to get one that can be bolted to the floorboard under the seat, with the cable as a BACKUP means of securing it.

 

[dstorm1911]

bolt a small safe to the floor of your truck under the seat or behind it.... My work truck (oversize load escorts) a 97 Chevy Suburban is loaded with high end electronic equipment from communications, a computer, printer etc... (same as police rigs) I also regularily carry several thousand in cash while staying in hotels all over the country often in the worst areas..... sometimes I have to just crash in the back of the Suburban so I took onea those Digital safes Harbour freight is always selling for $25 and bolted it to the floor under the back seat, there is also an alarm system which calls my cell phone if triggered installed on the truck as well..... while I'm driving the Taurus PT145 Milpro is near to hand when I can't carry it then its locked in the safe there is also a Keltec P3AT in the safe as an alternative when I need easy deep concealment...... All of my road trucks (we transport specialty loads) also have onea these safes bolted into the bottom of the closet in the sleepers so my drivers can secure $$ or valuables etc...

 

[WoofersInc]

I had a pistol stolen back in the early 90's. I filed with the NRA firearm insurance. The pistol was recovered 4 years later almost 2,000 miles from where I reported it stolen. I had the option of re-paying what I had received from the insurance to get the gun back. I decided to skip that since I had already replaced it.
I have since had my truck broken into and a 357 revolver stolen which has not been recovered as of this time. That has been 2 years now.

 

[dalepres]

Two words of advice get yourself one of these.

Do you have one? It looks to me like it would point the thief to the gun and slow them down by about 3 to 5 seconds. Or maybe speed them up because they would know to skip the console and glove box.

 

[chipperi]

Do you have one? It looks to me like it would point the thief to the gun and slow them down by about 3 to 5 seconds. Or maybe speed them up because they would know to skip the console and glove box.

Yes I do it is hard to see under the confines of my seat. Joe Blow bad guy is usually more interested in radios, bags etc, unless they are specifically looking for a gun I don't think they would spend too much time trying to stick their head under the seat ruffle through the dust bunnies. But essentially you are correct locks are for honest people, if they want it bad enough they will get it. Hopefully they have a hell of a time getting it open and hopefully they think there cool and stick it down their shorts gangsta style and take themselves out of the gene pool with a 230gr golden saber.