Helper stole a gun, need advice

[Sentryau2]

Police or not do not accuse someone without proof. I have had the unpleasant experience of setting in a police car for being accused of something I had nothing to do with. My sister was accused of stealing jewlery and had nothing to do with it. Needless to say the person who accused us of said crime could be drowning and I wouldent help. If you choose to make me out to be something I'm not then I'll be what you expect me to.

If you have no doubt, go to the police. Tho I predict that this wont turn out quite the way most expect

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Let us know what transpires.

 

[Thermactor]

Report it to the police, is there even a question of that?? It's the law!

 

[Water-Man]

Report it missing to the cops.

 

[AKElroy]

Just stunned that 42% of those responding are encouraging the OP to commit a crime by not reporting this. Wow. IT'S A GUN.

In my experience, the theft the OP describes is fairly typical of most thefts. It is usually an acquaintance, and there is usually some trust. This is no different, except that we are talking about a gun, and the OP is acknowledging in writing, in public, that he has not reported this AS THE LAW REQUIRES. this forum is only anonymous to each other and the public. The WA state Police could both identify and contact this OP within minutes of anyone seeing his post choosing to report it.

MAKE THE CALL, OP. if someone else beats you to it, you may be the one answering questions, defending yourself, and watching your guns being taken away while being investigated, all to protect the future of a thief.

 

[Shadow 7D]

The law (in most states)
actually doesn't require the report of a lost/stolen gun UNLESS you are a FFL
so, not report IS NOT a crime...

So..

 

[dprice3844444]

do the crime,do the time.your procrastination increases your liability the longer you wait.

 

[btg3]

I want to give her every chance in the world to be as we are, and I would not
want to have her ruin her future ability to defend herself for a mistake at age 21.

Give her a choice:

Either she returns it and it stays between the two of you, or, if she can't return it, you must report it stolen. Communication, responsibility, and accountability must not be compromised in any event.

 

[AKElroy]

Connecticut
District of Columbia
Massachusetts
Michigan
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Rhode Island

These are the states that require reporting of a theft of firearm.

I stand corrected. WA is not a mandatory reporting state, although the liability issue is a separate concern.

 

[DAP90]

If the gun is missing you need to report that to the police ASAP; whether it’s the law or not.

The police will likely ask you if you suspect anyone. When they do – be honest. You have suspicions but based on what you said above, no proof. Let them find the proof.

If you also want to discuss it with her – fine. If the gun mysteriously get’s returned you can notify the police of that as well.

 

[bobinoregon]

Report the gun as stolen, let your "friend" know that it's been reported and go from there. No matter what happens the issue of trust is gone both ways.

 

[Captain33036]

There is no need to confront, nor accuse her.

Simple. Use this as a teachable moment. Next time you see her, tell her, as a way of further teaching her firearm safety, that you have discovered a firearm missing. And that the proper thing to do is to notify the police, which you will be doing.

Simply tell her this as a general lesson, in your discussion about firearm ownership....NOTHING directed at her.

She will be curious, so, let her know what the penalties are for firearm theft. And what the issues are, in terms of responsible ownership etc.

If she did it, she will figure out very quickly how wrong it was. She will probably get rid of it. throw it in the river, whatever. But, that might be a good thing.

Doing this, you let her know what the consequences of her actions (IF she indeed did the theft)...without accusing her or confronting her.

Simple as that. And then move on.

She may surprise you and be honest. If not, and as a general rule, never deal with this person again.

Hope this helps

Best

J

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Do you REALLY have to report a gun until you are absolutely sure it isn't "misplaced"? You have a "window" to do as you please. Anyone ever been prosecuted for not reporting a stolen gun QUICKLY ENOUGH?

 

[Cee Zee]

I suppose I should mention that a good friend of mine had a very nice pistol stolen from him. It broke my heart more than his I think. I wanted that gun since the first time I ever shot it and someday I will talk him out of it. Yes he did get it back. It turned out a friend of his kid stole it. They sorta suggested they knew who did it and gave them the chance to make it right. I was shocked to see that it did happen. But we're talking a high school kid with no real easy way of selling a gun without attracting attention. I don't know how they figure out who took it but they did get it back just by talking to that person.

BUT we live in an area that is the opposite of strict when it comes to guns. The LEO's would certainly have made something of the case but my friend didn't want to give the kid a big mark on their record. But that was a kid, not an adult.

The fact that it was nearly a year later that they found out who took the gun may have figured into the situation. The original thief still had the pistol. If it had been sold it may have been different. I really don't know all the details of this story. I just know he did get the pistol back. I tried to talk him into reporting it to the cops too BTW. I would have in a heart beat. I have forgiven other things from kids but stealing a gun is serious business IMO.

 

[Tinpig]

Unfortunately, nothing in the OP's original post indicates that he has any evidence that his "suspect" stole the gun.
Reporting a stolen/missing gun is one thing; I would think twice before accusing someone of larceny without evidence.

Tinpig

 

[thorazine]

Simple. Use this as a teachable moment. Next time you see her, tell her, as a way of further teaching her firearm safety, that you have discovered a firearm missing. And that the proper thing to do is to notify the police, which you will be doing.

This may result in her freaking out and bashing his skull in -- albeit a small chance but you do hear about it happening.

Is the topic starter maybe in his... golden years?

Maybe he just misplaced it.

 

[klover]

I am 100% sure

that I have not had it out of my place since I hired her 3 months ago. Also, it was in a pack, butt showing for months. I moved it once to a locker near my bed, and a few weeks ago moved it back. Like I said, I do not carry this as a primary, and it only goes on long trips with me if it does. I have not had time off for many weeks, so it remained on "1/2 display".

The place is triple locked and alarmed. My busy life means security is important, and the place is never unlocked with me gone.

Social life is zero because I need the overtime. There was only me and her with access. That leaves her to make the gun move.

She also showed great fear, and fled during our last meeting. I was staring at her wondering why she was telling me something about "relationships", and I believe she started thinking I was on to her. Her flight baffled me, but then I connected the empty pack pocket with her strange behavior. Intelligent, but insane is what I think of her now.

I tried to call the police several days ago (lots of phone recording hell). Finally dialed 911 yesterday. They said I was allowed to ask them not to investigate immediately, and they would honor that. I did ask exactly that.

If I don't get to talk with her by tomorrow, the investigation is on.

Thanks for all of you who are actually helping me cope with this big loss ($800). I haven't had time to inventory other possible losses). I did want her to have a decent opportunity at work and play, and feel very betrayed with woman kind. I do not believe I will ever hire again as difficult or impossible as it might be for me to assume their jobs on top of my overtime.

Perhaps I will send the url of this post to her parents. Maybe they can let her know she is now a felon if the investigation nets results.

 

[Hanzo581]

Let's just call it like it is....If she wasn't young and hot would you turn her in? Of course you would. Report to the police ASAP.

 

[guyfromohio]

I would not open the door to online forums with the family. Once the door is open, a defense attorney can bring forth anything in here. Also, if a crime is committed with the gun while you are chatting on an online community, it could look bad for you as well.

 

[Ashcons]

That's a bad situation, man. If I were you, I would file a report for the missing firearm immediately or sooner.

It may not be relevant to this girl, but the kind of people who really set my do-not-trust radar off are those who lay on the charm on thickly. There are two people indirectly in my life (as I don't want anything to do with them) who have embroiled friends or family in legal and emotional difficulties. Their most notable traits are their free-flowing compliments to other people. They pay compliments to buy emotional capital and trust from other people, then use that leverage to keep those people held closely to them as they wreak emotional and/or legal havoc in their lives. People outside of the web see the craziness within, but those trapped think they can reason with and/or talk their "friend" into behaving as a normal person would in the situation.

I tried to call the police several days ago (lots of phone recording hell). Finally dialed 911 yesterday. They said I was allowed to ask them not to investigate immediately, and they would honor that. I did ask exactly that.

If I don't get to talk with her by tomorrow, the investigation is on.

Thanks for all of you who are actually helping me cope with this big loss ($800). I haven't had time to inventory other possible losses). I did want her to have a decent opportunity at work and play, and feel very betrayed with woman kind. I do not believe I will ever hire again as difficult or impossible as it might be for me to assume their jobs on top of my overtime.

Perhaps I will send the url of this post to her parents. Maybe they can let her know she is now a felon if the investigation nets results.

OK, this post just took a weird turn.

Just take the high road and let the police do their jobs. I've been convinced I knew what happened with certain items disappearing before to find out that I was wrong (moved something myself that I was convinced my wife must have moved).

 

[OptimusPrime]

The majority here is correct.
Number 1:
You have a missing firearm.
Report it to the police, as you would ANY theft.
Your judgement is being clouded by "well, I know her and she's nice...."
Take your emotions out of it.
You have a theft; call the police and report it.

Number 2: you suspect one of your employees for dishonesty and stealing.
You need to let her go immediately.

It is a black and white world man, tough but true.

 

[Rock185]

klover, I have investigated my share of these situations, where the thief was the friend/relative/trusted employee, etc. What I do know is that the longer you wait to report , and have this incident formally investigated, the more the water will be muddied. In essence, if this were the "Wild West", you'd be giving the bank robbers more and more of a head start. The probability of your gun being returned declines by the minute. Your reporting what you suspect will not automatically cause the person to be arrested, charged with a crime, life ruined, etc, etc. She will be an "investigative lead" until, and unless, evidence is developed to support probable cause to charge her. This may never happen. Unless she confesses, it's your word against hers at this point. Thieves love conflicted victims...

 

[BSA1]

First of all it has not been clearly established by the O.P’s post that the gun is stolen. At this time it is missing which is a big difference.

The O.P. has not explained the time frame between the last time he saw it for sure and when he discovered it missing. He states he moved the backpack it was stored in a “few weeks ago.”

The O.P. has not explained who else knows that he has the gun.

The O.P. has not explained who else knows where he stores the gun.

O.P. states only the two of them have had access to where the gun was stored since he last saw vaguely a “few weeks ago.”

The comment “She also showed great fear, and fled during our last meeting” is strange unto itself and subjective. How is discussing a unrelated topic have anything to do with the other? Hardly a indicator of committing a theft in my books.

Accusing someone of theft is a very serious charge and the O.P. should be prepared for a hostile reaction. If he was to accuse me of theft he would get told no in the most explicate and very strongly worded way. I would also ended any social contact with him and limit any business relationship/contact with him as much as possible.

False accusation could seriously harm the O.P’s business and personal relationships.

CRS cannot be ruled out. I have had items from my reloading room disappear without explanation and later found them in a unusual location. In fact I am missing a couple of couple of items right now that I know where not stolen. The only questions is when and where they will turn up.

What has not been mentioned is why not just ask her in a non-confrontational manner if she has seen the gun around the house.

 

[Potatohead]

Just take the high road and let the police do their jobs. I've been convinced I knew what happened with certain items disappearing before to find out that I was wrong (moved something myself that I was convinced my wife must have moved).

this

 

[il.bill]

Two points jump out at me from your last post.

1) You own a firearm that is 'missing'. If you are certain beyond a reasonable doubt that it is not simply misplaced, you ought to report it to the police immediately. Be completely honest when they question you in their investigation, and let them handle things from there - this may well be a felony situation.

2) You "haven't had time to inventory other possible losses"? That is baloney. If it means going without sleep this very night, one of your next priorities would have to be just such an inventory, especially focused on all other firearms you own.

At this point there is no way I would risk spending time alone with this woman. IF she is guilty of the theft, what would you feel like if she tried to deflect things away from her felonious actions by ripping open her blouse and yelling "Rape!", or some variation thereof, at your next in-person encounter, with things then coming down to your word against hers? In this country she should remain innocent until proven guilty, but your own responsibilities go far beyond any attempt at her rehabilitation if your suspicions are correct.