Stolen gun a sick feeling and a message for those who keep guns in their car

[doc2rn]

I usually cable lock mine to the seat base.

 

[woad_yurt]

I only read about half of the posts in the thread so, if I'm repeating, please excuse the following....

Most likely the thief saw my prescription drug bottle sticking out of my gym bag….

Anything left in sight (purse, package, shopping bag, gym bag with prescription drugs hanging out of it, any bag, etc) is a very strong temptation to a thief. You probably made yourself the most attractive prospect in the area by leaving stuff in sight. The gym bag w/the visible drugs would probably be a great lure for a sting operation.

For 15 years, I drove an '80 Delta 88 that eventually racked up 375,000+ before I sold it. It was brown with a blue front clip, had slightly dented bumpers, no hubcaps, a decayed vinyl roof and no headliner inside. It was definitely what one would a call a beater.

I could leave it unlocked in the worst neighborhoods and it wouldn't get a second glance. Whenever possible, I would always park it next to an attractive target and never once was it touched, even though a screwdriver would obviously unlock the trunk and one of the doors. No matter where I was, no one ever thought that there would be anything valuable in such a trashed car. They always passed it up for greener pastures.

A time at the mall with an ex:

"Put your bag behind the seat; someone'll steal it."

"It's ok, there's nothing they could use anyway. I have my stuff in my pocket."

"But they'll have to break my window to find that out. Hide your %#@()* bag."

The moral of this story: Don't make yourself appealing to a thief. Put your stuff out of sight, even if it's worthless. The thief doesn't know it's value until they're away from the scene. Also, if you can, park next to vehicles that are nicer and more expensive than yours and thus more attractive to a thief.

 

[jakemccoy]

What I am doing is replacing my gun as soon as the insurance pays up.

Did you run the stolen gun through home insurance or auto insurance?

What was the total value of the stolen items?

I have to double check my deductible, but I'm thinking that after paying my deductible it wouldn't be worth it to run it through either insurance.

 

[sohcgt2]

I guess I don't understand, if you know you are going to have to leave the gun in the vehicle plan for a way to secure it. Doors locked is not secure. Otherwise carry it on your hip (or however you choose to carry) where it belongs. Either way the security issue has been addressed. As far as kda's point goes I agree that the criminal is responsible, but certain things require owner responsibilty as well due to their inherently dangerous nature. Some pharmeceuticles require chain of custody, some explosives require chain of custody, firearms should be secured by responsible owners. I learned the 3 lock security method in the military, all weapons are secured by 3 locks or by a trained weapons handler.

Get your car safe, lock the gun with the provided cable lock, lock the safe, lock the car, or carry the gun with you.

 

[jakemccoy]

See this thread for a security device that can work for you today:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=468520

 

[FAS1]

Here's another option for you. Since you drive a pickup you should have enough room to mount this horizontally under your seat. With a little practice you can reach down and access your secured handgun very quickly. Not the least expensive, but probably the best option for security and accessability. Once you have had something stolen from you, the cost isn't quite as important and it's easier to justify spending a little more on quality.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=459871

 

[Shadow 7D]

Or instead of all the hoopla just render it in operatble, easier with a semi than a revolver.

Drop the mag and remove the slide, now all some robber can get is a frame.
Remove the cylinder for a revolver,

who would want a broken gun?

 

[jakemccoy]

Or instead of all the hoopla just render it in operatble, easier with a semi than a revolver.

Drop the mag and remove the slide, now all some robber can get is a frame.
Remove the cylinder for a revolver,

who would want a broken gun?

That seems like more hoopla actually. You're carrying the slide with you. Meanwhile, your frame gets stolen. By the way, the guards at a place like prison or court will probably not allow you to carry your slide inside.

Thieves don't behave rationally. They will definitely take a gun frame if it's there for the taking. I have been a victim of a smash-and-grab thief. Imagine a tornado hitting your property and grabbing whatever looks semi-valuable.

 

[scotthsi]

Really? I supose you have thought of every possible angle for every event in your life right?

You KNEW that firearm needed to be secured beforehand and don't say it never even crossed your mind. Plain and simple.

I've never had a home break-in, house fire or carbon monoxide issues. But I have a monitored alarm system that has smoke/CO detectors. And my firearms are SECURELY IN A SAFE, which is bolted down quite well. I've never had a major illness or injury yet I still carry medical insurance. I don't leave firearms in my car, but if I were to, you'd can be damned sure they would be secured. Could thieves still steal my safe or guns in my car (if they were there)? Sure, probably, but consider this...

You would have received MUCH more sympathy had you done ONE REASONABLE thing to secure that firearm and, sorry, throwing it under the seat doesn't count. I truly thank you for allowing yet another criminal to arm himself so easily...with YOUR weapon.

 

[thorazine]

I thought one of the best things about it is that you attach the cable to your seat rail. Seems like that would be pretty difficult to get around in the normal amount of time someone would be leaving a gun in their car.

That said, concealed compartments are definitely an interesting idea. However, I would want to combine the two different strategies and find something very solid to attach one of those gun boxes to even if it was concealed.

Problem with under the seat -- that is probably on the top three places someone would look.

If the thief comes equipped it could be relatively easy to defeat.



Most automobiles have excellent hiding spots along with strong areas for support where a cable and or lock can be attached to.

You just have to think outside of the box and get creative.


EX:

Acura Integra LS 2000.

Passenger (front) floorboard bottom right panel.

Behind this is the ECU.

The ECU can be relocated to behind the glove box.


There are three plastic feet which secure the panel in to position.

If you grind down two of the three -- it would still be secure however easy and quickly popped off with the tip of a key.

Behind that...

Lot's of thick metal which attaches to frame -- etc.

-and-

Plenty of room to put a G26... strong cable... quality lock.




Edit:

Behind the glove box or under the dash are two excellent spots.

I could fit a small safe behind my glove box...

I just would need to get creative when it comes to securing it and providing a method for easy mounting and access.

 

[jakemccoy]

I prefer a method in which I can get in my car, lock the doors, start the car and unlock the gun without having to do gymnastics to get to it. Under the driver seat works to keep the gun out of sight from someone standing outside. See this thread for methods that will likely secure your gun from anybody who doesn't have cable cutters:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=468520

I'm guessing most car thieves do not carry cable cutters. They tend to smash windows and get what they can in a hurry.

 

[Eric F]

Did you run the stolen gun through home insurance or auto insurance?

What was the total value of the stolen items?

I have to double check my deductible, but I'm thinking that after paying my deductible it wouldn't be worth it to run it through either insurance.

Started with auto insurance as some stuff is covered there the rest went to home owners.

As far as value I prefer not to say the total but being that this is more about the gun than the other stuff. I bought the gun for $300 new then put about $500 in parts into the gun. Therefor I put the value at $800. If I were to sell it I would ask $800 not anything less. Since it is a econo name brand gun I would likely never get $800 for it. So I would never had sold it.
scotthsi

You would have received MUCH more sympathy had you done ONE REASONABLE thing to secure that firearm and, sorry, throwing it under the seat doesn't count. I truly thank you for allowing yet another criminal to arm himself so easily...with YOUR weapon

Spoken like a true brady bunch member, Sniff sniff Humm Smells like troll.

I guess you might say the same thing had my house been broken into and my safe cut open too.

Yeah we got the picture from my first post. I locked my truck I didnt really think anything would happen, The gun was out of sight. Had I thought about it in the past? Sure maybe a little but then again in 23 years of driving I have never had a car broken into.

Perhaps you should thank yourself for not having the fore sight to send me a pm and telling me a better way to secur my gun in the car.

Oh yeah after reading some responces I have a better feeling now.

I locked my car, enough said. I didnt have a safe for years of gun owner ship many others dont either, and thats ok. Had this been my house some one could have easily broken a window forced a door or picked a lock and done the same thing.

I therefore feel like I did what was responsible, and safe. My methods were defeated, big deal life goes on. I went gun shopping today and have a replacement in mind. I am still sick that my gun is likely being traded right now for dope. Perhaps one day I will see it again. I still recomend that you keep your car locked and try not to keep the gun there if possible.

oh yeah scotthsi how would you recomend securing long guns on a hunting trip where you need to stop for a bathroom brake? Cart them into the stall with you?

 

[orionengnr]

Have a CHL and a cover garment...problem solved.
W-M may have a problem with OC (don't know, never been to VA) but at the many W-Ms I've been to, none of them have been posted against concealed carry. You said yourself that the posting is not binding.

In the grand scheme of things, I'd rather be asked to leave W-M (or go home and get a shirt) than be out an $800 pistol...and have ebabled another potential Brady statistic.

About the only good thing to come out of this is that a bunch of people may actually say "Hey, that could happen to me!" asnd do something to prevent it.

Or, they may continue to live in denial...

 

[84B20]

This was my solution to a lock box in my truck. It is bolted through the rear wall of the cab with 1/2" bolts. The box is 1/8" steel and the door is 1/4" steel. Notice the lock and key, very hard to break the two dead bolts and the key would be hard to duplicate. It was a bit tricky to bolt through the wall without removing the truck bed but I took it to a local car dealer and one of their mechanics was able to figure out a way of holding the bolt by wrapping a fairly stiff wire around the threads and lowering it between the bed and cab and maneuvering it through the hole.

And don't worry, I Photoshopped the key so it can't be copied. I have something similar for my other vehicle but it was custom made for me by a friend that is a welder. It is also bolted down and would be quite difficult for a thief to locate but easy for me to retrieve my weapon. I don't use either unless I have to go into a business that prohibits firearms and I rarely patronize those.

 

[jakemccoy]

Guns or no guns, I have NEVER had a car break in and I've lived all over the country (and the world when I was in the Navy)...not a SINGLE problem.

That makes you lucky, nothing more. There probably isn't any divine force field around your car. It would be interesting if you would come back and post after you've had a car break-in. There will be somebody who will criticize you for not installing bullet proof/smash proof windows throughout.

The fact that you have never had a car break-in explains why you're coming down hard on this guy. The guy obviously gets it now. He's not looking for sympathy. He made this thread so that others could learn.

May luck continue for you.

 

[lanternlad1]

Wow. I love all the self-righteousness coming from the peanut gallery.

Guys, this guy has been through enough and feels badly about it already. He was just trying to help others in the future, and he get jumped on and ridden like a Walmart toy pony.

Come on people, act like adults here.

 

[sohcgt2]

You would have received MUCH more sympathy had you done ONE REASONABLE thing to secure that firearm and, sorry, throwing it under the seat doesn't count. I truly thank you for allowing yet another criminal to arm himself so easily...with YOUR weapon.

That was kind of harsh but I agree, 3 locks or physically secured by a trained weapons handler.

 

[travellingJeff]

You aren't responsible for the actions of others. You can, and I'm speaking only ethically not legally here, leave gold bars and Thompson guns on your car seat and if someone steals them, it's their fault.


Any reason you weren't carrying the gun in a nice safe place say, your right hip?

 

[Eric F]

Any reason you weren't carrying the gun in a nice safe place say, your right hip?

As stated earlier, I did not have an over shirt and could not open carry with out having been asked to leave. I needed to stop and pick up a few things to go to work with. My t-shirt just would not have been enough

Wow. I love all the self-righteousness coming from the peanut gallery.

Seems to be one in almost every thread.

 

[travellingJeff]

Eric - Good enough answer, I was just asking to clarify. Ignore the people who are trying to shoot you down, you didn't do anything wrong, the CRIMINAL did something down. Perhaps those that feel it's your fault would be more at home at the Brady Campaign, or some such "victim disarmament" location.

 

[22-rimfire]

You would have received MUCH more sympathy had you done ONE REASONABLE thing to secure that firearm and, sorry, throwing it under the seat doesn't count. I truly thank you for allowing yet another criminal to arm himself so easily...with YOUR weapon.

Chuckle Chuckle. My favorite. Have you ever considered that my car is MY property? Why do I have to spend all kinds of money securing my firearm from some criminal? My firearm won't be there when I'm allowed to carry it into a court house. Who is the criminal here? IF it is in my locked vehicle, it is secured.

I often drive a pickup with a tool box behind the cab. The only time I ever lock it is if I leave the pickup parked at an airport over night or Christmas shopping? All it takes to break into a locked tool box on a pickup is a screw driver. It is my property. It is illegal to break into it and I would purpose that it's illegal to even open it or to walk into my house if the doors are unlocked.

I personally feel no remorse at all relative to some criminal getting my firearm from my vehicle or home other than it cost me money. My gun, MY money.... The only issue for me is the damage to the vehicle and the cost of the stolen gun. If a firearm is stolen from my vehicle, I'm not the one who committed the crime.

 

[RoostRider]

I don't think you can completely dismiss liability as some suggest on the argument that the criminal is the only one in any way liable..... but I also don't think the OP has done that... he seems genuinely bummed out that he was part of a statistic, a black mark against guns, and or gun owners, even if only a perceived mark....

I think he should have done more, but not ironically, so does he.... it's not the end of the world, and the most criminal thing that gun is likely to do is to be possessed illegally and/or traded for some drugs. Heck, it may be that some thug will have it on him and get taken down big time for it (thereby causing some good and hopefully the guns return to its rightful owner).

It sucks. It was irresponsible (although to what extent can be argued). It is done. Learn and move on. Teach others (as you have here).

You're OK in my book simply by virtue of the fact that I know how I would feel, and you seem to feel that way.... and I have made an occasional mistake with regards to somethings security (and paid the price from time to time)... it's the worst....