A bad thing happened to my best friends gun collection.

[jsalcedo]

A friend I grew up with likes guns just like I do.

He got a marlin .22 when he was 6 and a H&R 410 when he was
9 we both went to the gunshop and bought ourselves SKS's when the law changed allowing imported surplus military rifles.

Well anyway my friend fell on hard times and was living out of a travel trailer on his dad's property. He put his rifle collection in his dad's gunsafe and kept his pistols in the trailer.

The neighbor kids break into his trailer and steal his S&W10mm,ruger MKII, tokarev, ruger blackhawk but thankfully don't find the beretta92 under the pillow.

So my buddy is finally back on his feet gets a place of his own and I ask him to get his rifles out of mothballs and put them in my gun room so we can go shooting, SKS, AK hunter, savage 30-06, a couple of .22s an ithacha double and a few others.

So he goes out to his dad's place and finds out his dad is divorcing the stepmom.

He goes to check out the safe (in the barn) finds it open. Half his guns missing and the others with a thick layer of rust.

Sadly he takes what is left to my house and I clean them up
and store them with my guns.

Turns out his step mother left his dad and had her brother empty the gun safe of over 50K worth of his dad's rifles and pistols as well as my friends SKS, childhood .22 and other sentimental gift guns.

He calls his now EX stepmom and asks her for his guns back.

The phonecall to the stepmom brings denial she took anything.

Let this be a warning not to trust your guns to anyone but yourself and make sure they are insured.

 

[Dave R]

Sad tale. Good warning.

 

[Sharpie1]

These are just a few of the many reasons I have an insurance policy for ALL of my guns.

According to my insurance agent, my homeowner's insurance gives me $2000 for firearms coverage...so, I bought coverage (amount specified by me) for each gun - and this is "full-risk" coverage.

It is fairly inexpensive ($2 per every $100 of insurance for each gun)...

I *do* have a few guns that have significant sentimental value, and this would be very little comfort - but at least it would provide *some* comfort if something were to happen to those guns.

TD

 

[Mike Irwin]

Uhm....

I think your friend is missing something....

Those guns were STOLEN.

They were his, being stored at his father's.

The theft should be reported to the police, along with all pertinent information.

 

[Sharpie1]

I agree (about reporting the incident to the police).

TD

 

[jsalcedo]

Reporting the theft is a good idea. Its kind of hard to think in those terms when its someone you've known forever who screws you over.

Maybe at least he can take the tax writeoff or in the best case he can get the guns or the replacement value returned.

 

[Orthonym]

Five Ouchies, i.e.

ow ow Ow ow OW!

 

[Kampfer]

one more.. Ow!

 

[firestar]

That is a sad tale. Such disrespect too! Why did they leave the gun safe open? Why don't people just stop messing with other people's property?

I would inform the gun theives that I plan on informing the police, that might get the guns back. If it didn't, I would call the cops and have those people brought up on charges. That is what the law is for anyway.

 

[Gunhead]

Hmm, we have baaad laws with all guns registered, but at least a snatching like this would be awarded with 2-8 years in jail...

 

[Kharn]

Gunhead:
In the US, being caught with a stolen gun (and without a reciept to prove you bought it off someone honestly and without knowing it was stolen) will get you a nice stay in jail. Registration really wouldnt help, as every gun owner should keep records of what they own and the gunstore records can be consulted if further proof is needed (assuming the guns werent sold in a private transfer, but even then the other guy should have a copy of the reciept detailing the transaction).

Jsalcedo:
I'm with everyone else, get the police involved.

One reason I decided to get my C&R is that its a federal crime to steal a gun from an FFL, the ATF gets to take part in the investigation and everyone found to be involved gets a nice, long stay in Club Fed.

Kharn

 

[280PLUS]

ouch is right...

but it looks like theres somewhat of a silver lining here?

i'd nail em to the wall

but i'm like that...

i went through a messy inheritance fiasco, i learned a lot about greed and what it does to people

i learned you never really know people youve known all your life until something like this happens, then you find out who really is naughty and who is nice

if i might borrow that phrasing

 

[foghornl]

Get the police involved NOW ! !

Will be a good thing to leave those folks hanging out to dry while twisting in the wind, just to mix metaphors a bit.

Sad to say that it was apparently an inside job, though. Greed does cause strange things to happen.

 

[41 Redhawk]

jsalcedo

Two friend stories in a row? I do not want to be your friend.

 

[Carnitas]

Definately a matter for the police. Gun theft is a serrious crime. Also make sure your dad's divorce att. is also aware of the theft and that you are pressing charges. This could give your dad a serrious leg up in the divorce proceedings.

"Judge, she shouldent get the house cause she does not need the house, after all she'll probably be in jail anyway."

 

[4v50 Gary]

Yep call the police and file a stolen property report. It's embezzlement but most states have codified a lot of these crimes (theft, false pretenses, embezzlement) as theft. While your step mom is correct in stating she took nothing, she conspired with her brother and therefore is a principal. They'll pony up the guns before the ATF visit.

 

[Justin]

Having guns stolen from me would upset me enough to sick the BATFE on the perpetrators, no question about it.

 

[jsalcedo]

_________________________________________________
Two friend stories in a row? I do not want to be your friend
_________________________________________________

Oddy enough its 3 friend stories spread over 2 friends.

Luckily, I try to avoid situations that hold the promise for undue suffering.

 

[jsalcedo]

I'm going to talk to my friend and see if he will report the crime and press charges.

His dad's very messy divorce is over and he was double crossed
by having much of his personal collection removed as well while he was off on a hunting trip.

I'm sure it was accidental that my friends guns were taken and sold off as well but when he called her on it the step mom should have come clean and offered to at least pay for what she took.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Equity would have your friend restored to a position that he was before he was injured by the tortfeasor's conduct. Thus, if it costs $5k for the guns, he gets $5k. She'll try to reduce the ducats by arguing they were worth, say, $2k and $2k was all she got. This can be defeated by bringing in commonly available things like blue books or price sheets and if necessary, dealers.

 

[foghornl]

As 4v50 Gary indicated, blue books, etc are very helpful in determining replacement costs. Something else, to go along with that, visit the manufacturer's websites to establish MSRP for those weapons, and since some models are probably no longer made, look up the closest, but higher priced equivalent.

 

[HankB]

If your friend isn't bright enough to call police and report his guns stolen, than I suggest you seek a more intelligent friend.

This is for his protection, as well as the first step in possible recovery. If the guns can be traced to him, and later show up in a crime . . . especially in another state . . . well, he really ought to be on record as reporting them stolen.

 

[jsalcedo]

I think the main problem is the guns were stored on his fathers property
and he was unsure about sending his step mother and step uncle to jail after knowing them for over 30 years (not all of them bad)

I of course share the opinion that the guns need to be reported stolen
at least for his own protection.

 

[Cosmoline]

I don't know. Nothing good has ever come from bringing in the cops, esp. when firearms are involved. Sadly, most of them simply cannot be trusted and none of them have your interests at heart. I would only report the matter if you know the cops in the area. I've heard too many horror stories of cops turning around and arresting the victim.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I'd call it theft, and call the police.