Stolen pistols and Dragnet

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Red Tornado

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My house was broken into Monday and they got a couple of pistols among other things. Here's the timeline. Imagine Sergeant Joe Friday from Dragnet narrating.
RT


Pemiscot Dragnet
The story you are about to read is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

This is the county, Pemiscot County MO. A scattered rural population nestled deep in the SE corner of Missouri located one mile north of the Arkansas border. A brief six mile drive puts you in Blytheville at the extreme NE corner of Mississippi County Arkansas, which is where most of our story takes place.

Monday, 16 Jun 08
12:30 – While at the Blytheville Wal-Mart during my lunch break, I received a call from the missus, reporting a broken back window. Had her look for signs of robbery, and she noticed jewelry chest drawers were on the floor and emptied. Told her to call the police and I’ll be right home. Left my half full shopping basket, went to customer service and got a phone book. Called Hawk’s Pawn in Blytheville and Gosnell Pawn in Gosnell, four miles north of Blytheville, and alerted employees to be on the lookout for a large amount of jewelry. Said I would call back when I had more information.

1:15 - Deputy H— of the Pemiscot County Sheriff’s Department arrives and begins examining the scene. Back window broken, trash can lid smashed from climbing on it, clearly the point of entry. The missus and I compile an initial listing of missing property, and Deputy H—records it. Highlights include, contents of the jewelry armoire, large duffel bag containing assorted gun cleaning supplies and extra magazines, a Ruger 22/45 pistol, a Sig Sauer P226 pistol, a Canon Camcorder, and a Sony DSC-H9 digital camera. All small, high dollar, easily disposable items; seems to be an experienced thief.

2:30 - Deputy H—departs to enter the pistol information into the MULES system, and start a report. I call Hawk’s and Gosnell Pawn and alert them to the missing pistol, camera, and camcorder. Head back to work at 3:15.

5:00 – Pulling into Wal-Mart to resume my interrupted shopping, get a call from Suzanne at Gosnell Pawn. She informs me that they have just taken in a Canon camcorder matching the description. Asks for serial number. I give her the serial number and it matches. Suzanne calls the local Gosnell PD, and I call Pemiscot County with the information. She has the driver’s license information on the woman who pawned the camcorder. She also pawned a small amount of jewelry. We have a solid lead.

5:30 (est.) – Deputy H—heads into Arkansas to investigate further.

5:45 – I go by the Blytheville PD to alert them of the situation and see if they have any suggestions on any additional action I could take. Speak with Chief of Police who advises that unfortunately, there’s nothing they can do at this time, as it’s not in their jurisdiction, but requests that I keep the local PD informed.

8:00 – Compile a property list containing most of the missing items, with descriptions and any peculiarities the might help in identification. The missus will have to add the jewelry descriptions in the morning.

Tuesday, 17 Jun 08
8:00 – Arrive at work, realize there is an additional pawn shop in Blytheville that I was marginally aware of, but forgot in the excitement. I’ll contact Buddy’s Pawn first thing.

9:00 – The missus emails me the completed property list. I print a copy and fax it to the Pemiscot County Sheriff’s department. I print out several copies to distribute to the local shops and police.

10:00 - AT&T representatives show up for critical meeting regarding complete replacement of network infrastructure. I can’t do anything until it’s over.

11:45 – Meeting finally over, I take copies of property list and head first to Buddy’s Pawn. Lisa is very helpful, and informs me that they have taken in a digital camera that morning. We compare serial numbers and they match. Call Deputy H— to inform him that our camera has surfaced. This was pawned by a man and woman with the same last name. We now have two suspects, and it’s in Blytheville jurisdiction. I leave Lisa a copy of the property list and head to Blytheville PD. I inform them of the situation and leave them a property list. I also go by Hawk’s pawn and alert them and leave a complete list.

12:30 – I head out to Gosnell Pawn to drop off a list. Suzanne informs me that she already has one. Deputy H— is in AR tracking the leads and gives them a copy of the fax. He was apparently head to Buddy’s pawn. I leave a copy with the Gosnell PD, and head back to Blytheville.

1:00 – While driving back to Blytheville, I get a call from Dan at Hawk’s pawn informing me that the large bag with all the gun accessories has come in at Hawk’s. Unfortunately, Dan was in the back with the property list and another employee took in the bag unknowingly, so he didn’t know to check the vehicle. It’s the same person who pawned the camera. I call Deputy H—and leave him a message.

1:15 – I arrive back at Buddy’s Pawn to find Deputy H—and two Mississippi County Deputy’s taking the camera into evidence. I fill him in with all I know. They think they know where the suspects are staying.

2:00 – I arrive back at work and fax a copy of the list to another pawn shop about 20 miles away on the chance that they may hit another store for the guns and remaining jewelry.

4:00 - I receive a callback from Deputy H—informing me that the Mississippi County Sheriff’s department has a motel staked out, and he is returning to Arkansas from the Pemiscot County courthouse with warrants for the arrest of two individuals for Burglary 1 and Burglary 2.

6:00 – I call the Sheriff’s department for updates and am informed that Mississippi County deputies have arrested two individuals, and Deputy H—is in route to interrogate, take custody of, and transport the prisoners back to the Pemiscot County Justice Center.

They haven’t recovered the pistols, but I think they got most of the other stuff. Three departments are working on tracking them down.
 
Wow. Well done.

This post is a perfect example of the need to document your guns.

Apparently I should begin documenting my other important items: laptop, camera, etc...

Again, excellent pro-active work.
 
Dang, you got real lucky. The thieves were actually dumb enough to pawn your jewlery and guns. I never got that lucky and am still missing a pistol and a couple rifles from over ten years ago.
 
Actually the pistols are still missing. I just spoke with a lieutenant who was getting ready to re-interrogate the female prisoner. Hopefully they can get some more information.

Additional info. Apparently it was a married couple and they had a 14 year old boy with them. The police can't question the boy without parental consent, of course, and they didn't grant it. Hopefully a night in jail has softened her up a bit and she'll come clean. The son is with relatives, so maybe he'll tell them something that they can pass on.
RT
 
Red Tornado

Good work at staying on top of everything, and for your diligence and foresight in being able to document your stolen items, and then coordinating it all with the pawn shops and the local LE agencies. Joe Friday couldn't have done it better himself.
 
Glad it's all working out for you. I'm going to have a long night of recording serial numbers on my stuff...
 
Good reminder for us to take away. I'll be recording all my SN info on my valuables this evening. Keep us posted on how it goes, and good luck getting your stuff back.
 
If I were in your position, I would consider suing the burglars in civil court. Being victimized like that would undoubtedly leave me in severe mental anguish and subject me to pain and suffering since I probably wouldn't feel safe in my own home.

Just a thought.
 
Thanks for the kind words guys. I made sure I had all my serial numbers a few years ago when a friend of mine was a burglary victim. I learned from his foresight. If somebody learns from mine, then that's the best thing I can hope for.

If only mantraps were legal

Oops, they're not?!? What if I just dig a tiger trap, is that legal? How about a bear trap, could I slide by on a technicality? I'd love to come home after a burglary and discover the perp had to chew his leg off to escape. :evil:
RT
 
Most local PDs have rooms stacked with stolen property that can't be returned because the owners don't have serial numbers to prove ownership.

Years ago when I took a police admin course the officer had us photograph our high value items with a 3x5 card showing the serial numbers. A few days later one of the students had a break-in at his home, the local PD was able to recover all the property, arrest and convict the scumbags who did it mainly because of the photos.
 
Update...finally

After the burglars were arrested, they unfortunately made bail. They showed up for their first court date, and maybe the second, but then jumped bail. They probably didn't go far, but laid low. However, justice would prevail.

Sometime earlier this year, either March or April, they were both apprehended. No bail this time. After several court dates, and pushing it back, and on and on, they were finally sentenced yesterday. The wife got four years, but she'll only have to serve a 120. The husband got five years, and he'll be serving it all.

On a side note, during a traffic stop three weeks ago in Blytheville, AR the officer smelled something, searched the car, and found my Sig P226. Now that they've been sentenced, I should be able to get it back in the near future. :)
RT
 
I was burglarized on the night of July 26-27 and five guns taken, with ammo, magazines, and accessories. Fortunately for me, the punk broke into an alarmed business the next night and wrecked his stolen car when pursued. He had not had time to dispose of my stuff and I got it all back. I am well aware that I was very lucky on top of sharp police and dull crook, and have upgraded security.
 
It's ironic you posting this today. I spent a couple of hours yesterday photographing and recording the serial numbers of all my firearms. I already had serial numbers of my other important items like cameras, etc. I do think I'll spend more time photographing all the rooms of my house, however.
 
On a side note, during a traffic stop three weeks ago in Blytheville, AR the officer smelled something, searched the car, and found my Sig P226.

If only he knew what the Ruger 22/45 smelled like...:D

Thank you for the wake up call, I'm going to record some serial numbers tonight.
 
After the burglars were arrested, they unfortunately made bail. They showed up for their first court date, and maybe the second, but then jumped bail. They probably didn't go far, but laid low. However, justice would prevail.

Sometime earlier this year, either March or April, they were both apprehended. No bail this time. After several court dates, and pushing it back, and on and on, they were finally sentenced yesterday. The wife got four years, but she'll only have to serve a 120. The husband got five years, and he'll be serving it all.

On a side note, during a traffic stop three weeks ago in Blytheville, AR the officer smelled something, searched the car, and found my Sig P226. Now that they've been sentenced, I should be able to get it back in the near future. :)
RT

Wow, nice follow-up to the story ... Thanks for sharing!
 
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