Shotgun theft

[Richard Parsons]

A pal has had his shotgun nicked out of his pickup this afternoon. Car locked but back window smashed. Gun was hidden away but forend was attached. Witnesses got a number plate from a fleeing vehicle and police on the case. Any idea of consequences?

 

[SimpleSimon]

Depends entirely on the issuing force, at best a stern warning, at worst revocation. Where was he and what was he doing at the time?

 

[enfieldspares]

It's why I never go "down the pub" for a natter and a nip after shooting or a shoot breakfast before unless I can either see the vehicle.

The "worst" case isn't that your friend gets stern words or even gets a revocation. The worst case is that the thief or another uses it to intentionally or unintentionally kill someone.

And then for the rest of us it becomes another "legally held gun being stolen and used in a crime."

For heck's sake unless your friend was taking a sauna or enjoying a sunbed in his skivvies why was the fore-end still with it?

 

[Dexter]

Sounds like he was targeted? If his car was parked on the road near his house then he will probably be in the deep stuff. Parked on the petrol station forecourt whilst he was paying for fuel then it's totally different. I'm sure that it was actually somewhere in the middle of those two though.
Hope they catch the scum bags and he gets it back.

 

[Oracle]

Given the circumstances were the arrangements he made for the safekeeping/security of the firearm both satisfactory and reasonable. It is likely to hinge on that.

 

[potshotpat]

I'm assuming you have reported it, if not the sooner you do the better at least you can prove you were treating the reporting as a priority. Good luck.

 

[Pedro]

Lots of variables will I suspect come into play here. Firstly, as potshotpat says, report it ASAP if he hasn't. The consequences of it being used in crime and being recovered by the police before he reports it when he could have earlier would be bad!

The other things that might come into play are, as Oracle says the arrangements he made for safekeeping/security. Could you see it in the pickup? How long was it left unattended? What sort of area is it (known for thefts from vehicles or theft of guns)? Were there any indications there might be a gun in his vehicle (BASC stickers, pheasants on the back seat etc.)? Was it in the back of the pickup which is not alarmed, where the passenger areas are? There's probably more. But it would be worthwhile your pal getting his ducks in a row before they speak to him about it.

 

[Richard Parsons]

Thanks chaps. Been reported immediately. I wasn't at the scene I'm going on second hand news.

 

[kes]

Sometimes these theft involve someone local following a shooter home from a shoot. The ONLY defence here would be just popped in for a pint of milk - anything else, take the gun to bits take a piece with you. With the way police tolerance of shooters is going he may well be revoked, unless its a 'one minute thing' then ear-bashing.
This is just my opinion - you friend may well be lucky. Hope for the best - plan for the worst.

 

[MAH]

I agree with Simon.
It will be a tricky time for him.
The key things for me are;
Did he take reasonable precautions to prevent the theft?
Was there any ammunition with it? Did that go too?

Removing the forend is one reasonable precaution, there are others.
Take a look at the HO guidance on remote storage, it lists a number of precautions, and be prepared to explain / justify the actions taken vis those not.
M.

 

[Primate]

A pal has had his shotgun nicked out of his pickup this afternoon. Car locked but back window smashed. Gun was hidden away but forend was attached. Witnesses got a number plate from a fleeing vehicle and police on the case. Any idea of consequences?

Where did this happen? What was the fleeing vehicle and registration?

 

[glasshalffull]

This is a fear we all have. I guarantee most of us don't physically attach our firearms to our vehicles. Maybe an article could be run here recommending suitable solutions? In Donegal I recall returning to a stalkers jeep after 2hrs out only to find his window put in. Luckily enough he had taken his rifle with him. A relieved fellow didn't really care about his smashed window. Another time a plumber had most of his tools stollen hence his livelihood from the van parked beside our pick up which had a rifle bolt in situ. The plumber was in tears and I was close too. This is a wake up call for everyone on here with a few probably very few street wise exceptions.

 

[Dexter]

I'm assuming you have reported it, if not the sooner you do the better at least you can prove you were treating the reporting as a priority. Good luck.

Of course he's reported it Pat? What sort of comment is that? I can just imagine the conversation now "Hello Officer, I just thought you might like to know that when I went to my truck yesterday I noticed that someone had broken in and nicked my shotgun. I would have contacted you sooner but I have been so busy since then phoning my mates and letting them know that I just haven't found the time to contact you. Well it's nothing serious to worry about is it!"

 

[parkyboy]

I own a cable with a loop on one end and a steel shotgun cartridge shaped bung on the other...you put the loop up the barrel and the bung goes in the chamber and you can then padlock the shotgun to the vehicle around something solid like the frame of the seats or the bulkhead etc...you can also then take the fore end with you for added security..I hope the gun is found and returned....Hugh

 

[potshotpat]

Sounds like he was targeted? If his car was parked on the road near his house then he will probably be in the deep stuff. Parked on the petrol station forecourt whilst he was paying for fuel then it's totally different. I'm sure that it was actually somewhere in the middle of those two though.
Hope they catch the scum bags and he gets it back.

You're assuming all these things.

 

[potshotpat]

Of course he's reported it Pat? What sort of comment is that? I can just imagine the conversation now "Hello Officer, I just thought you might like to know that when I went to my truck yesterday I noticed that someone had broken in and nicked my shotgun. I would have contacted you sooner but I have been so busy since then phoning my mates and letting them know that I just haven't found the time to contact you. Well it's nothing serious to worry about is it!"

You're assuming all these things as well.
You're the sort of person with all your knowledge that I made the decision to sell all my Encylopedia Britannica.

 

[slider]

You're assuming all these things as well.
You're the sort of person with all your knowledge that I made the decision to sell all my Encylopedia Britannica.

Its states in the OP that the police are on the case therefore no one is assuming it was reported, they know it was reported

 

[VSS]

The consequences for your mate depend entirely on whether the precautions be took for the security of his gun are considered to have been reasonable, under the circumstances.

I never used to leave my rifle unattended in my vehicle, but to be honest felt a bit self-conscious walking around a motorway service station with a gun! Now I have a cable lock that goes through the action and secures the rifle to the vehicle. Bolt is then carried with me, as is ammo unless I've got a lot, in which case it's well hidden.

 

[Richard Parsons]

Ok. Gun was in a case behind drivers seat. Hidden under overalls. Farmers Mrs sees two scrotes reaching into broken window and fleeing in a BMW. 2 buddies took chase and filmed it on a phone, so pretty good evidence. Cops now arrived on scene and helicopter overhead. I think "reasonable precautions " have been taken i.e. locked car in open view daylight outside an occupied house with a witness to the whole thing. But , naturally my pal is panicking.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Locked vehicle. Shotgun hidden from view. As far as I'm concerned these meet the 'reasonable precautions' criteria.

I'm fairly sure the police will take a similar view. Far too many people seem to hold the opinion that they're all anti-firearms Nazis, hell-bent on persecuting law-abiding citizens for the sake of it.