Stolen pistol & suppressor

[kimberkid]

A friend of mine called me over the weekend and said his Walther 22 & suppressor have been stolen, he believes by one of a crew that was doing some repairs in his basement.
He said that usually he or his wife stays home with the crew, but that earlier last week they had both left the house and the crew was there alone.
I have always thought he had a small safe but he said he just kept it under his mattress.

Anyway, I told him to call the police, the owner/supervisor of the repair company and the BBB … when I followed up with him he said he only called the police and they just took a report over the phone.

My question is, does he need to report this to the BATF?

 

[AlexanderA]

Any stolen NFA registered item must be reported to the ATF. The ATF takes such thefts very seriously. This is actually a benefit for the registered owner, because the ATF has a better track record in recovering such items than does the ordinary police.

Years ago, when I was a SOT, I sold a watercooled Browning MG to someone who had it stolen out of the trunk of his car. The ATF discovered the culprit and recovered the gun within a few days. They have the resources to do that, unlike some other agencies.

 

[kimberkid]

Any stolen NFA registered item must be reported to the ATF. .

Thanks Alexander, I’ll pass that along. Do you know what the procedure is?

 

[MEHavey]

See and follow:

Report Firearms Theft or Loss | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Reporting for Federal Firearms Licensees Any Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) who has knowledge of the theft or loss of any firearms from their inventory must report such theft or loss within 48 hours of discovery to ATF and to the local law enforcement agency. (Regulations at 27 CFR § 478.39a...

www.atf.gov

 

[MEHavey]

See also:
>
> When there has been a theft or loss of a firearm registered under the National Firearms Act (NFA), 26 U.S.C. 5801
> such as a short-barreled rifle or short-barreled shotgun, silencer, machinegun, or destructive device,
> imposes a separate and additional reporting requirement. Section 479.141 states that whenever any registered
> NFA firearm is stolen or lost, the person who has lost possession must, immediately upon discovery of such theft
> or loss, make a report to the Director of ATF showing the following: name and address of the person in whose
> name the firearm is registered; kind of firearm; serial number; model; caliber; manufacturer of the firearm; date
> and place of theft or loss; and complete statement of facts and circumstances surrounding such theft or loss.
> Accordingly, when an FFL loses possession of an NFA firearm, it has reporting obligations under both 27 CFR 479.141
> and 27 CFR 478.39a.

Federal Register :: Request Access

 

[kimberkid]

See and follow:

Report Firearms Theft or Loss | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Reporting for Federal Firearms Licensees Any Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) who has knowledge of the theft or loss of any firearms from their inventory must report such theft or loss within 48 hours of discovery to ATF and to the local law enforcement agency. (Regulations at 27 CFR § 478.39a...

www.atf.gov

I followed that link and they have a procedure for FFL’s however in the next section it says;

Reporting for Non-FFLs​

ATF does not take reports of stolen firearms from private citizens:

So it sound like he has done his legal duty.

Thanks for the additional info, I’ll let him know he needs to report the theft to the Director of the ATF.
John is 83 and pretty embarrassed about the situation and didn’t tell the police about the workers left alone in the house with the gun and suppressor under his mattress.

 

[AlexanderA]

Reporting for Non-FFLs​

ATF does not take reports of stolen firearms from private citizens:

ATF most certainly takes reports from non-FFL's (registered owners) when NFA firearms are involved. In fact such notification is required.

Do you know what the procedure is?

Since time is of the essence in a situation like this, the best thing to do is call the local ATF field office and let them take it from there.

 

[kimberkid]

ATF most certainly takes reports from non-FFL's (registered owners) when NFA firearms are involved. In fact such notification is required.


Since time is of the essence in a situation like this, the best thing to do is call the local ATF field office and let them take it from there.

It’s been over a week now, and he didn’t want to tell the police about who he suspected … I told him he should also call the Better Business Bureau and the company the crew worked for but he said only called the police, but I will pass it on that it’s required to call the ATF-NFA.

 

[Jim Watson]

John is 83 and pretty embarrassed about the situation and didn’t tell the police about the workers left alone in the house with the gun and suppressor under his mattress.

It’s been over a week now, and he didn’t want to tell the police about who he suspected

He was probably brought up to not make waves, not a member of the Complaining Internet Generation.

I had a gun stolen, probably by a home improvement worker, and I darned sure reported it and passed the word. Didn't get it back, though.

 

[Gordon]

#1 I think under a mattress storage besides unsafe and idiotic is NOT in compliance for rules of NFA items
#2 depending on which State you live in the "improper storage of firearms" which means not locked up according to state rules can be a felony !

Report it to ATF anyway and who was around the property who could have done it.

 

[dogtown tom]

#1 I think under a mattress storage besides unsafe and idiotic is NOT in compliance for rules of NFA items.

Says who?

Not federal law or ATF.

 

[MEHavey]

Common sense(that rarest of all commodities), so that leaves actual federal direction by the wayside.
See: https://www.guntrustlawyer.com/where-can-my-nfa-firearms-be-s/#:~:text=Under the NFA, there are,limit access to the firearms.

Still... civil liability (and or state reqm'ts) if the item could easily be taken ...can play out badly.

 

[Gordon]

I was erroneously under the idea that NfA items were to be secured in a safe
. Years ago I had a bit of a tussel with an ATF agent about Black powder storage in a business I was managing for a friend that sold gunpowder. I ended up having an " approved" black powder magazine constructed and still have it to this day in a Home. So I did the old ," assume" mistake to think NFA items must be secured and have certainly done so since able to acquire them. I do know for a fact in CA . And as of late in Oregon , firearms must be kept in as State type approved locked storage unless under your direct supervision .under penalty of State law.