Stolen rifle!!!

[bigbomar4]

First off hi I was refered here by another forum. On monday my house was broken into. Along with a bunch of other things that were stolen they took the rifle that my grandfather gave me. He is now near death so this rifle have a very large sentamental(sp) value. It is a ruger #1 (I think a 2000 model varminter) .243 WIN. The police have been well less than helpful. I do have a police case but as of earlyer today it has not even been put in the system yet. I have already gone to every pawn shop in town and given them the sn and description. If any of you can put the gun on the stolen gun list please PM me and I will give you the sn to do so. Again thanks and if this is not in the proper place please move it.

 

[bradkoll]

It may be helpful if you post your location. Kind of a big country

 

[bigbomar4]

Sorry about that Im in Lubbock, TX.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

I know there r websites where you can post SNs of stolen guns. I don't know them but Google can help you. Good luck. Sorry for your loss.

 

[bigbomar4]

I have put the sn on a few sites but none of them post them to the same data base that the police use. I think that you have to be a LEO to add that.

 

[ultradoc]

That stinks. Good luck.

 

[moonpie]

bigbo , sorry you haven't had any luck yet but don't give up hope. i bought a ruger pistol before the national data base and pawned it ten years later after brady went into effect. well it flagged and the chief contacted me, i told him to wait right there and met him at the station.....anyway there are more eyes and ears here than at firearmtalk so your message should carry further. welcome and better luck

 

[heeler]

Also take heart that a Ruger# 1 isn't exactly a common rifle and might very easily surface in some pawn shop/gun show.
I feel your pain and good luck.

 

[Mainsail]

Call your friends over and search the nearby wooded areas, or anywhere else someone could stash a rifle, and look for it. Very often, and especially if they broke in during the day, burglars will hide big stuff in the woods until they can come back for it later. Teenagers are notorious for doing this.

 

[bigbomar4]

That would work if there were any woods around here Im in the middle of NW texas its all plains.

 

[Bubbles]

The database being referred to by the OP is the NCIC, which is maintained by the FBI. Unfortunately gun dealers don't have access to it so that we can run the s/n's of used guns that we purchase or consign.

In addition to the pawn shops I'd let every FFL in the area know that your gun was stolen, if there's a reward offered, etc. The ATF maintains a nationwide list at: http://www.atf.gov/about/foia/ffl-list.html.

 

[Colonel]

I'd do an internet search for every pawn shop and gun store within say 200 miles. Spend the dime to call every one.

Tell them you're pissed, that it was your grandfather's gift, and that it had sentimental value. Any normal person is going to be as angry as you.

Give them the make/model/SN. Ask them to write it down on a slip of paper and post it up where they'll see it if someone brings it in, because you're offering a REWARD to catch the crook.

I bet you'd get the gun back. Definitely worth a try.

Sorry to hear of your loss. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[langenc]

May not end up being pawned for a while. I guess the croiok would want some money sooner than later, now that I think about it. That may be the reason why it was stolen.

They may be experienced and realize you will fight back.

Make up a bulletin like a missing child/pet and distribute them to the gun/pawn shops. Mail those to shops far and wide.

 

[lemaymiami]

Since I'm a retired cop.... here's what I'd do in addition to everything you've already done...

I'd contact the agency that you filed your report with and politely ask to speak to a supervisor. Give him your case number and ask him/her to verify that the weapon has in fact been entered into NCIC (and if not, why not - still being as polite as possible and very low key). Of course you're going to record (take notes - no tape recording) time, date, and individual you spoke to. If they haven't entered the weapon into the system (the only system that every cop in the country relies on to recover stolen weapons) you have a real grievance. Your next step is end whatever contact you have with that agency, then by phone request a meeting with the chief of police and see if he/she is aware of that deparment's failure to act on your behalf (I wouldn't care who you are or what agency is responsible - you have a real grievance if they haven't entered a valid stolen weapon into the system).

Most of the time there might be a slight delay in entering a weapon into the system since only a few in that agency will actually be authorized to make the entry (if anyone could do it you'll end up with lots of errors and bad info to NCIC). Anything beyond that and I'd be wanting to know why. If they refuse to divulge the info (public info) or otherwise give you the runaround find the nearest reporter with a reputation for going after those that abuse their authority and go after them publicly. If the circumstances are as you described it will be a public service....

By the way when properly entered a stolen report last for years and years. I've personally seen firearms recovered as much as 30 years later. This is also a huge officer safety issue since any cop handling a weapon on the street will automatically check the serial number if they're doing their job properly. A bad actor with a stolen weapon will assume he's going down and very likely to attack - and if the cop doesn't know the weapon is stolen he/she is at a very real disadvantage.

I'm hoping that when you re-contact them you'll find the rifle has been entered but police outfits come in all sizes and capabilities... Good luck.

 

[rondog]

My money says it was probably a meth head that stole it, and it will likely turn up at a pawn shop very soon, probably close to your house. The Lubbock area has a lot of tweakers, yes? Oil field work seems to attract those types.

 

[bigbomar4]

Thanks again guys.

lemaymiami-- I am currently headed that route right now. Iv already left a message with the supervisor and am waiting a call back right now. If he doesnt call back soon I will call him back agian. The Lubbock pd is extremely under staff and has been for a long time so Im sure that has something to do with it.

rondog-- Yes there are a lot of tweakers around Lubbock but mostly just outside of town not right in the middle were I live. Around here we have all of the hispanic gang bangers. The house behind me and over one is a gang banger house. I am almost positive that they did it. Or the gang banger that live right down the street and see me come and go everyday.

 

[whalerman]

I have a good feeling about you getting your gun back. And I have an even better feeling about the health of your grandfather. My prayers are with you on him regaining his health.

 

[Dreamcast270mhz]

Hope everything works out for you

 

[rondog]

rondog-- Yes there are a lot of tweakers around Lubbock but mostly just outside of town not right in the middle were I live. Around here we have all of the hispanic gang bangers. The house behind me and over one is a gang banger house. I am almost positive that they did it. Or the gang banger that live right down the street and see me come and go everyday.

Bummer. Tweakers will sell 'em for the first cash offer, gangbangers will use them to commit crimes and kill each other.

 

[Tomcat47]

We have a "trading paper" that has a gun section! Like Buy-Sell-Trade. If you have one in your area, I would keep eye out for Ruger No.1's that show up in it.

Around here they trade their stolen guns off for something else, and then they show up in the paper from unsuspecting seller ... they are starting to catch on here, but still a viable place to look.

Hope you Grandpas Health Improves Soon, Hope you get your Ruger Back! And hope the thieves get caught!

 

[Gig 'em]

Sorry about your loss. Hope it turns up. I spent several years in that neck of the woods... If nothing else, these are no major cities closer than a 5 hour drive. The scumbags that took it will likely not travel to unload it, hopefully.

 

[Mainsail]

That would work if there were any woods around here Im in the middle of NW texas its all plains.

That was just an example. I've found stuff stolen from my car in a nearby storm drain. Anyplace near that someone could stash it; look there.

 

[rondog]

It would probably be a good idea to get a copy of the police report, if you haven't already. Then at least you could prove to them that it WAS reported stolen, and have something in-hand.

 

[joeq]

Bummer. Tweakers will sell 'em for the first cash offer, gangbangers will use them to commit crimes and kill each other.

I'm thinking a Ruger #1 would be far from an ideal rifle for a gang banger.

 

[rondog]

I'm thinking a Ruger #1 would be far from an ideal rifle for a gang banger.

To morons like them, a gat is a gat. You can still rob a likker sto' with one. Or kill a rival. Getting the right ammo for it is the challenge. A 'banger is liable to use whatever cartridge will drop in the hole. A bullet's a bullet, right?