CoRoMo
Member
I'm not going to bolt a safe to my company truck. Maybe my own truck though.
Stolen gun a sick feeling and a message for those who keep guns in their car
- Thread starter Eric F
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jimmyraythomason
Member
Happened to me twice. Tough luck.
RoostRider
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I'm a bit surprised about some peoples cavalier attitude about having a firearm stolen by a known criminal (by definition).
I agree with the OP and a few others here that it is kind of a big deal, and should have been better protected than just left in a car under the seat.
I will point out again that a $30 investment (cabled lock box) would have saved the author hundreds, and a clearer conscience, if nothing else. (CoRoMo- these are easily removed and transferred from vehicle to vehicle- and although bolting to the floor might be better, not many common thieves will be able to break the cable)
That being said, there are, unfortunately, times when we cannot protect a firearm like that (like when I unexpectedly ended up in Wisconsin in someone elses car the other day).... so there is some use to some of that other input...
My advice? Invest in a combination lock box cabled to the front seat underneath..... or, if funds are really tight, the bolted ring with a lock through the trigger guard would be pretty good, although not as good... it doesn't hide the gun, the trigger guard could be busted (on some models), and the lock can be snipped pretty quickly with a bolt cutter.
I agree with the OP and a few others here that it is kind of a big deal, and should have been better protected than just left in a car under the seat.
I will point out again that a $30 investment (cabled lock box) would have saved the author hundreds, and a clearer conscience, if nothing else. (CoRoMo- these are easily removed and transferred from vehicle to vehicle- and although bolting to the floor might be better, not many common thieves will be able to break the cable)
That being said, there are, unfortunately, times when we cannot protect a firearm like that (like when I unexpectedly ended up in Wisconsin in someone elses car the other day).... so there is some use to some of that other input...
My advice? Invest in a combination lock box cabled to the front seat underneath..... or, if funds are really tight, the bolted ring with a lock through the trigger guard would be pretty good, although not as good... it doesn't hide the gun, the trigger guard could be busted (on some models), and the lock can be snipped pretty quickly with a bolt cutter.
threehorse
Member
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- Jan 29, 2008
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- 17
Sorry to hear about your property loss.
I imagine that you've probably already thought of this, but the parking lots of most of that chain's stores are monitored by security cameras. Any chance that the thief was recorded on video?
I imagine that you've probably already thought of this, but the parking lots of most of that chain's stores are monitored by security cameras. Any chance that the thief was recorded on video?
Deltaboy1984
Member
Sorry about your loss.
Stuff happens
I've not lost a fire arm in a breakin, but had nightmares about it.make sure you don't have suggestive stickers like protected by smith and wesson.sooner than later it does happen to everyone.shake it off and keep living.the feeling of being violated will go away.having a gun sometimes means being vulnerable.
Keep the faith,eye on the target and spread the word...
I've not lost a fire arm in a breakin, but had nightmares about it.make sure you don't have suggestive stickers like protected by smith and wesson.sooner than later it does happen to everyone.shake it off and keep living.the feeling of being violated will go away.having a gun sometimes means being vulnerable.
Keep the faith,eye on the target and spread the word...
rocklock
Member
Please do report it to the police if you haven't done so. My 1911 was stolen out of my car while parked in long term parking at the airport while I was on a trip. The police posted the description and serial # on a national website that pawnshops and gun dealers can check to see if a firearm is stolen. It took 2 years, but they caught the guy when he tried to pawn it. Turns out it was an inside job - he worked at the parking lot, kinda what I thought from the beginning since the place is surrounded with razor wire on top of a chainlink fence and has night time security lighting and patrols. He used a slim jim the parking company gave him to unlock doors for people who locked their keys in the car. Anyway, he must of shot it a bunch in the meantime because the action was bone dry and the barrel filthy when I got it back, not how I left it. Because I had a $500 deductible for theft and had to miss a days work to drive to Denver to get it back, the court made him pay restituion to cover the deductible, my gas, and missed wages, which I got, believe it or not.
41magsnub
Member
In a pinch wouldn't a cable bike lock around part of the seat frame and through the trigger guard or the action be about the same thing?
Eric F said:
You should have already thought about this very scenario and done that as a responsible gun owner before the break-in. The "now I know/should have known better" excuse need not apply. And, as several have pointed out, it is NOT an expensive proposition.
Have you had firearms stolen from a house break-in? If you haven't, do you keep them in a safe? If so, why didn't you apply that logic to your truck that had not been broken into...yet? If you have had firearms stolen from your home and decided to get a safe after that then, again, why not apply that logic to your truck because it could/WOULD get broken into? A vehicle is generally much more susceptible to break-ins than homes.
Yes to all I called the police as soon as I saw my bag missing only then did I realize the gun was gone.
Really? I supose you have thought of every possible angle for every event in your life right?
I see little point to badgering me over this with your logic arguement a home and a car are two diffrent discussions entirely. it happened and I did everything I could have done at that point in time to prevent this.
Really? I supose you have thought of every possible angle for every event in your life right?
I see little point to badgering me over this with your logic arguement a home and a car are two diffrent discussions entirely. it happened and I did everything I could have done at that point in time to prevent this.
RoostRider
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Eric F said:
Don't get too snippy man.... scotthsi is right.... you did not do everything you could have done. or in my opinion should have done... but at the same time, as you note, nobody does.... but you could have had the foresight to see this being a very real possibility and done something else (even locking it in the trunk would have been better than just leaving it under the front seat.... the FIRST place any crook would investigate beyond clear sight)
You made some very real mistakes, and I think your original post was to point them out.... no sense getting bitter about someone agreeing with you...
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Yes great plan but there is no trunk on my truck.
Yes I did make a misteak and no one will ever be harder on me than me for that however there is agreeing with a person then agreeing and adding insult to injury.
I could have indeed installed the lock box years ago, but I didnt so at the very moment I did the absolut best I could have done in that situation at that point in time, I gambled and lost why I had won so many times prior to this. I learned my lesson the hard way.
Asking me about my logic with home and comparing it to my truck just rubs me a little raw because they can not compare to each other in this context.
Enough said on that thank you.
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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- Nov 14, 2007
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- 13,146
Sorry to hear of your troubles, but have a few questions out of curiosity:
How'd they get into the car?
What kind of gun?
Is it a high, medium, or low crime area?
Did you make a police report?
How'd they get into the car?
What kind of gun?
Is it a high, medium, or low crime area?
Did you make a police report?
kda
Member
How is it that we have reached this point? The bad guy does his thing and we immediately begin finding fault with our own behavior, how we failed to "perfectly" protect ourselves and our property and how we should have done better ... always we should have done better. Then we dwell endlessly on how we can modify our behavior in the future to better protect ourselves.
BUT .... meanwhile, we tolerate a society, even elect leaders that appoint judges and pass laws that turn the bad guy lose on the street before we have finished trying to blame ourselves. Most of us on this forum realize you don't blame the gun when a bad guy uses it to kill someone. But we blame ourselves when that same bad guy breaks into our property and steals one.
Hey people, it is the BAD GUYS FAULT, not yours! If we have fault, it is for failing to properly punish the bad guys and letting them back on the streets before you had enough time to fix the broken locks and windows.
Do you actually believe that we can continue to turn criminals lose and yet somehow manage to to stay ahead of that ever growing crowd of perps and their increasing determination and skill level to do bad?
It is probably just me, but I'd like to see most of this self-recrimination energy directed towards ending this terrible period in our culture where we blame ourselves for the crimes of others and feel sorry for the bandits and thugs.
If you turn a thief lose, give him food stamps, subsidize his rent and tell him how you feel his pain, you will probably find him in your home, uninvited, again. But if you chop off the hand of a thief, you can be pretty sure he won't do that more than a couple of times. And then when he starves to death because he cannot feed himself ... hey, that is HIS problem. He had his two chances. He screwed himself.
Let's quit taking blame. We will NEVER be able to adequately protect our property and loved ones from a determined criminal. So instead of taking on more blame for our failure to do so, lets focus on the scum out there that our justice system seems determined to coddle.
BUT .... meanwhile, we tolerate a society, even elect leaders that appoint judges and pass laws that turn the bad guy lose on the street before we have finished trying to blame ourselves. Most of us on this forum realize you don't blame the gun when a bad guy uses it to kill someone. But we blame ourselves when that same bad guy breaks into our property and steals one.
Hey people, it is the BAD GUYS FAULT, not yours! If we have fault, it is for failing to properly punish the bad guys and letting them back on the streets before you had enough time to fix the broken locks and windows.
Do you actually believe that we can continue to turn criminals lose and yet somehow manage to to stay ahead of that ever growing crowd of perps and their increasing determination and skill level to do bad?
It is probably just me, but I'd like to see most of this self-recrimination energy directed towards ending this terrible period in our culture where we blame ourselves for the crimes of others and feel sorry for the bandits and thugs.
If you turn a thief lose, give him food stamps, subsidize his rent and tell him how you feel his pain, you will probably find him in your home, uninvited, again. But if you chop off the hand of a thief, you can be pretty sure he won't do that more than a couple of times. And then when he starves to death because he cannot feed himself ... hey, that is HIS problem. He had his two chances. He screwed himself.
Let's quit taking blame. We will NEVER be able to adequately protect our property and loved ones from a determined criminal. So instead of taking on more blame for our failure to do so, lets focus on the scum out there that our justice system seems determined to coddle.
RoostRider
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Eric F- I agree with most of your logic, but I see a lot of correlation between firearm security in a empty locked house, and firearm security in an empty locked car... although the car can easily be considered 'less secure' in most cases (not an argument in your favor). So, I don't think he was as much 'rubbing salt in your wounds', as he was showing a logical reasoning as to why you should have thought of this earlier, and we should all heed before we 'learn from our mistakes'...
Learning from your mistakes is the only way to learn in love and relationships, no matter what anyone tells you.... but, in his opinion and mine, is not something considered acceptable with regards to firearms security.... you have to look ahead and do whatever you can beforehand... I can't speak for why schotthsi feels this way, but I suspect it's the same reason you and I do... it's because I can't stand the thought of being the guy responsible for arming a known criminal with MY GUN....
I think you're just being a little oversensitive on a subject you came here to criticize yourself on and hopefully let others 'learn from your mistake instead', like you admittedly should have done yourself.... because, well, that's way preferable where applicable....
You seem to have the same logic that he and I do over it.... excuses are just that... Take the hit with the intended love behind it (again, speaking for myself.... I have no idea what motivates scotthsi)
KDA- you posted as I was typing....
While I can agree with much of the reasoning behind much of your post... I still think we are responsible for taking reasonable measures to ensure we are not victims... I don't think the courts can make this 'right', there will always be people willing to take advantage of others through theft and deceit, no matter what legislation and prison terms you hand out... so, if you don't weigh this into the equation, aren't you are partly responsible when you suffer as the result?.... in this case, how can you imagine that your car will not be broken into at some time? why would you not apply proper, easy, cheap, functional protections against this? And if you don't, you are somewhat responsible...
If not, we should be comfortable leaving firearms just about anywhere.... it's not my fault someone took my gun from that table over there... it's the criminal who took it's fault.... this could go on with money and everything else.... clearly there is a line where you become somewhat responsible... though we may differ on that line....
I think the author here understands this philosophy, and that's why he feels guilty... and should somewhat.... but I agree, he shouldn't beat himself up about this (and neither should we), just cure the problem.... lock that rascal!!....
Learning from your mistakes is the only way to learn in love and relationships, no matter what anyone tells you.... but, in his opinion and mine, is not something considered acceptable with regards to firearms security.... you have to look ahead and do whatever you can beforehand... I can't speak for why schotthsi feels this way, but I suspect it's the same reason you and I do... it's because I can't stand the thought of being the guy responsible for arming a known criminal with MY GUN....
I think you're just being a little oversensitive on a subject you came here to criticize yourself on and hopefully let others 'learn from your mistake instead', like you admittedly should have done yourself.... because, well, that's way preferable where applicable....
You seem to have the same logic that he and I do over it.... excuses are just that... Take the hit with the intended love behind it (again, speaking for myself.... I have no idea what motivates scotthsi)
KDA- you posted as I was typing....
While I can agree with much of the reasoning behind much of your post... I still think we are responsible for taking reasonable measures to ensure we are not victims... I don't think the courts can make this 'right', there will always be people willing to take advantage of others through theft and deceit, no matter what legislation and prison terms you hand out... so, if you don't weigh this into the equation, aren't you are partly responsible when you suffer as the result?.... in this case, how can you imagine that your car will not be broken into at some time? why would you not apply proper, easy, cheap, functional protections against this? And if you don't, you are somewhat responsible...
If not, we should be comfortable leaving firearms just about anywhere.... it's not my fault someone took my gun from that table over there... it's the criminal who took it's fault.... this could go on with money and everything else.... clearly there is a line where you become somewhat responsible... though we may differ on that line....
I think the author here understands this philosophy, and that's why he feels guilty... and should somewhat.... but I agree, he shouldn't beat himself up about this (and neither should we), just cure the problem.... lock that rascal!!....
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RoostRider
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(edited into above)
iiibdsiil
Member
Are we supposed to keep our TVs, computers, microwaves, and lamps in the safe too? What about our car keys? Someone could steal my other car and drive through a mall killing everyone.
Or does it only apply to guns? The same guns that we claim are nothing special and shouldn't be regulated in a different manner than most thing. Yet, when they get stolen are all of a sudden a huge disaster.
The mere fact that WE treat guns differently than any other object, yet expect for anti's to NOT is part of why we are losing this war.
Forget lock boxes -- they can be defeated with a little time and effort.
Best method...
Poopie pants!
aka hidden in plain sight!
Purchase a pair of extra large white boxer shorts.
Purchase some brown shoe polish.
Apply shoe polish on under wear -- be creative!
Streaking = taco bell.
Some clumped up spots = bad chinese food.
Or a combination of both!
Simply wrap up the firearm in the poopy pants then place on the floorboard in plain view.
If the poop method is not preferable get Mc Guyer on your car.
Look for panels which can easily be removed -- where there is sufficient space to stash a firearm.
Example:
Drivers side panel on my old automobile (by the fuse housing) was fairly easily popped off with the tip of a key.
Behind that panel -- a big steel bar (connected to frame and welded in place).
Which provided:
Securing the firearm around the bar with a chain / cable lock.
Hidden and concealed.
Automobile safes can be defeated and are a waste of money.
If I were breaking in to automobiles for a living and came across the safe -- it would be an item of great interest.
Just my opinion on the subject.
Best method...
Poopie pants!
aka hidden in plain sight!
Purchase a pair of extra large white boxer shorts.
Purchase some brown shoe polish.
Apply shoe polish on under wear -- be creative!
Streaking = taco bell.
Some clumped up spots = bad chinese food.
Or a combination of both!
Simply wrap up the firearm in the poopy pants then place on the floorboard in plain view.
If the poop method is not preferable get Mc Guyer on your car.
Look for panels which can easily be removed -- where there is sufficient space to stash a firearm.
Example:
Drivers side panel on my old automobile (by the fuse housing) was fairly easily popped off with the tip of a key.
Behind that panel -- a big steel bar (connected to frame and welded in place).
Which provided:
Securing the firearm around the bar with a chain / cable lock.
Hidden and concealed.
Automobile safes can be defeated and are a waste of money.
If I were breaking in to automobiles for a living and came across the safe -- it would be an item of great interest.
Just my opinion on the subject.
TheElyrian
Member
lol @ the poopie pants method above
I think I'm going to get one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Secure-It-Sec...B15U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250112573&sr=8-1
Seems like it would eliminate any smash and grab type thieves.
I think I'm going to get one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Secure-It-Sec...B15U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1250112573&sr=8-1
Seems like it would eliminate any smash and grab type thieves.
HardShell
Member
OP, very sorry for your bad experience/loss, but...
Maybe, maybe not -- that's a mighty broad brush you're painting with.
I've had at least one (usually more than one) firearm in each of my vehicles 24/7 for 25+ years and haven't lost one yet. Until I had children, I never did anything more than conceal them from sight -- since then, I employ simple lock-boxes for the handguns and cable-locks/mounts for the long guns for safety more than for theft.
That doesn't mean it won't happen to me tomorrow, just like your experience doesn't mean that it will.
IMO it has a lot to do with where you park and when, what type of vehicle it is, and a dozen other contributing factors.
Bottom line: As sad as I am for you over what you had happen, I certainly ain't changing my lifestyle because of it. Nothing personal, JMHO.
Maybe, maybe not -- that's a mighty broad brush you're painting with.
I've had at least one (usually more than one) firearm in each of my vehicles 24/7 for 25+ years and haven't lost one yet. Until I had children, I never did anything more than conceal them from sight -- since then, I employ simple lock-boxes for the handguns and cable-locks/mounts for the long guns for safety more than for theft.
That doesn't mean it won't happen to me tomorrow, just like your experience doesn't mean that it will.
IMO it has a lot to do with where you park and when, what type of vehicle it is, and a dozen other contributing factors.
Bottom line: As sad as I am for you over what you had happen, I certainly ain't changing my lifestyle because of it. Nothing personal, JMHO.
Mousegun
Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2005
- Messages
- 738
It may be cool to go back to the store and let the manager / owner know that his store policy led to the theft of a firearm and potential ramifications.
Here in Tennessee being caught in a posted business can get you a misdemeanor charge, a fine and maybe loss of your permit. There are a lot of guns left in cars and trucks as a result.:banghead:
We as in I and the police beleive the criminal used a slim jim as my passenger side window no longer works where as it did before.
Rock island 1911 in 38 super see my previous post in this thread for a complete discription
Not for breaking in cars but a few grab-n-dash armed robberies ect.
And YES also see my previous post.
Although it may seem cool to tell the store manager it will be of little value as the no gun thing comes from corperate.
wyocarp
Member
I couldn't agree more. Thankfully there are still a few on here that allow the criminals to be the criminals.
Erik M
Member
I agree, I kept a Lorcin .25 I got from a friend for pocket change under the ash tray area of my Eclipse for years.
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