Shotgun theft

Shooting Supplies : Ammo - Reloading - Firearms - Optics - Accessories
I was researching a little and states that ideally the gun should be disassembled and stored that way. But there doesn't seem to be a law

I think it can come down to what you had already done and the discretion of the police. I know a guy in my clay club who had his Perazzi stolen from his car. Same story, gun was in a slip under clothing etc but they smashed the window and off they went. Police found it a few weeks later stowed away under a mobile home :banghead: . The gun had rusted to pieces but he managed to restore it and get the bluing re done on it. I don't know how he did it but he seemed to get off fairly lightly I think. Still has all of his other guns - so there's hope for the OPs friend.
 
Hook'N'Bullet said:
I was researching a little and states that ideally the gun should be disassembled and stored that way. But there doesn't seem to be a law

I think it can come down to what you had already done and the discretion of the police. I know a guy in my clay club who had his Perazzi stolen from his car. Same story, gun was in a slip under clothing etc but they smashed the window and off they went. Police found it a few weeks later stowed away under a mobile home :banghead: . The gun had rusted to pieces but he managed to restore it and get the bluing re done on it. I don't know how he did it but he seemed to get off fairly lightly I think. Still has all of his other guns - so there's hope for the OPs friend.
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This type of response is the only one I have heard of from the police. If they don’t sense anything weird about the situation (ie believe someone is pretending it was stolen to get it off ticket) and nothing else is out of kilter with the license I don’t know why they would do anything different.
 
I seem to recall, from quite a few years ago, that this situation has already been tested in court and that the judge found at the time that a locked vehicle was sufficient security for weapons in transit. I tried to find the case on google but no luck
 
Essexsussex said:
This type of response is the only one I have heard of from the police. If they don’t sense anything weird about the situation (ie believe someone is pretending it was stolen to get it off ticket) and nothing else is out of kilter with the license I don’t know why they would do anything different.
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I agree, we shouldn't be punished for the acts of somebody else given that we have upheld our end of the deal with regard to necessary precautions taken place. But I think if there was obvious negligence on the gun owner behalf for example the police might act a wee different.
 
N1mr0d said:
I seem to recall, from quite a few years ago, that this situation has already been tested in court and that the judge found at the time that a locked vehicle was sufficient security for weapons in transit. I tried to find the case on google but no luck
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Maybe you're right, I'm not familiar with that case but "Weapons in transit" might be a clanger? Perhaps it would be deemed sufficient if the car was occupied and moving but could argue that a parked vehicle isn't in transit. It also opens up the can of worms of a vehicle being considered a public place by the police etc. which there's a whole thread about regarding knives and what not in a car when going to the shops and whether to carry it on your person or leaving them down the door. - Apologies if I've come across a bit abrupt
 
As I recall the case was brought as the gun was in plain sight against the passenger seat whilst the person went into a shop to buy something so in a way you could see why the police brought the prosecution - really sorry I cannot find a link
 
N1mr0d said:
I seem to recall, from quite a few years ago, that this situation has already been tested in court and that the judge found at the time that a locked vehicle was sufficient security for weapons in transit. I tried to find the case on google but no luck
Click to expand...
I think it unlikely that a judge made such a broad statement. He might have held that a locked vehicle was sufficient security in the circumstances of that particular case; however, there will be other circumstances where it is not sufficient. Appealing as it is to seek absolutes with which to comply, we cannot escape the requirement to use our noggins. I prefer it that way, to be honest.
 
CarlW said:
I think it unlikely that a judge made such a broad statement. He might have held that a locked vehicle was sufficient security in the circumstances of that particular case; however, there will be other circumstances where it is not sufficient. Appealing as it is to seek absolutes with which to comply, we cannot escape the requirement to use our noggins. I prefer it that way, to be honest.
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Plain sight and the judge let him away with it? I'm a bit shocked at that :rofl:. IMHO that'd be blatant negligence and lack of responsibility to omit any risk of theft. Surely common sense would be to at least cover the gun. Hell, I remove any valuables from sight when I park
 
Hook'N'Bullet said:
Plain sight and the judge let him away with it? I'm a bit shocked at that :rofl:. IMHO that'd be blatant negligence and lack of responsibility to omit any risk of theft. Surely common sense would be to at least cover the gun. Hell, I remove any valuables from sight when I park
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I have no idea where it happened. Going shopping in Leytonstone probably requires different measures from those needed when one pops into the Spar in Lairg...

That said, tucked out of sight with the bolt/forend removed is not onerous and might just prevent some poor postmistress getting a sawn-off Purdey waved in her face.
 
If you read the best practice guide on leaving vehicle in vehicle it comes down to

In a locked and alarmed vehicle
In the boot or out of sight
Parked In view or as close to owner as possible
Remove a key part and keep it with you bolt/ forend

They will explore how long and why it was left in vehicle, the only element missing is not having removed a key part of the weapon. Will come down to the police force involved and their interpretation of it. Hope all goes well for him, it would be useful I am sure to post a follow up with all the facts and the outcome
 
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