stolen gun advice

[GFB]

when I was a prosecutor with the DA's office, a local hoodlum was found in possession of a gun (S&W 629, I think. An expensive one) that had been reported stolen out of New Jersey ten years prior.
We called, faxed, and snail-mailed the police agency in NJ about getting the gun back to its rightful owner after I was through using it as evidence in my case.

They said the decade-old address and phone number for the gun theft victim were no longer valid, and they'd "get back to us" if they learned of that person's current contact information.

I got the distinct impression that they were not going to actually make any effort to track that person down and let them know the stolen S&W was finally found 900 miles away in Georgia.

LESSON TO LEARN: Keep The law-enforcement agency continuously updated as to your contact information and let them know that you are still interested in recovering your stolen property if it's EVER found.

Additional lesson: don't live in NJ.

 

[oconeedan]

Thank you all. Police report was done immediately.
Lessons learned.!

 

[Horsehat]

when I was a prosecutor with the DA's office, a local hoodlum was found in possession of a gun (S&W 629, I think. An expensive one) that had been reported stolen out of New Jersey ten years prior.
We called, faxed, and snail-mailed the police agency in NJ about getting the gun back to its rightful owner after I was through using it as evidence in my case.

They said the decade-old address and phone number for the gun theft victim were no longer valid, and they'd "get back to us" if they learned of that person's current contact information.

I got the distinct impression that they were not going to actually make any effort to track that person down and let them know the stolen S&W was finally found 900 miles away in Georgia.

LESSON TO LEARN: Keep The law-enforcement agency continuously updated as to your contact information and let them know that you are still interested in recovering your stolen property if it's EVER found.

Yet, if this person owed child support or taxes the government would locate them in no time.

 

[Zeake]

Pawn shops report every transaction to the local police. The police then run the serial numbers. Sometimes. . . The police do not give pawn shops lists of stolen guns.

 

[gh1950]

How do pawn shops get their info on stolen guns? Thanks, Dan

In most jurisdictions, pawn shops turn in daily reports of items they have purchased, The police are supposed to compare that list to the list of stolen property reported to police. Guns are run through the NCIS.

That's why in most jurisdictions pawn shops cannot sell such items in a designated time, usuallly 2 weeks.

Unless there is a "hit" on NCIS, pawn shops do not receive information of stolen guns. In other words, unless the police show up and seize a gun, they have no more information than you or I.

 

[Cartman]

I had one stolen about 8 years ago. It was recovered In a local drug bust and after the trial I did get it back.

 

[oconeedan]

Thanks gh1950!

 

[hoghuntrob]

Post on hotguz website. https://www.hotgunz.com/