stolen firearm recovered!

[Lykoi]

got a phone call from the local PD in my former town of residence....

just a call to inform me that on December 19th 2007, a young black male was stopped during a routine traffic violation and found to be in possession of a firearm, upon running the serial number off the g27, it was found to be STOLEN!!!! AHAHAHAHAHA

They called to me ask if i would still press charges... my only response was "you better believe i will!"
The detective also informed me that while it would/could take up to several months to get my firearm back, i would in all likelihood be able to actually recover it...

While i don't need another g27 to carry, it's simply cause for celebration that this buffoon was caught, will go to trial and will face 6months to 2years in jail.. unless he's already a felon or he used the weapon in a crime, or the judge doesn't like him. Either way, not enough time will be spent in jail, and either way, at least even if i NEVER get it back, they caught this guy and my firearm won't be used to hurt anyone.

[WildBill]

That's great news.
What are the details of the theft and how long ago was it?

[Kyle(Houston)]

Very nice

[Lykoi]

i purchased the g27 sometime between January and March of last year...
it was stolen in late may/early june from a gun safe that i kept in my closet at my old apartment.

The weapon was the only thing missing, not my nice speakers DVD player, guitars, pool cues, etc...
So i'm fairly certain it wasn't a crime of "opportunity"... so it was most likely someone i knew etc...
It's only a matter of time until the gent arrested spills his guts, and in turn i get to see the jerk who knowingly ripped me off spend some quality time with a 325lb roomate named "Tina"

I called the local PD that actually caught the guy, as he was arrested several hours from the original crime and asked the arresting officer a few q's about what happened... i didn't get very far, but he was very polite.

I've since invested in a much better safe, and now it never gets left at home either, as i carry almost 100% of the time.





hmm... what do you fella's think an appropriate punishment should be for theft of a firearm??

Tx says it's no less than 180 days, and not more than 2years... I'm thinking that you pretty much deserve to be buried alive with one round in the chamber of said stolen weapon... give you a few days to "ponder" your infraction.

[WildBill]

I am not up to date on Texas laws, but wouldn't the guy caught with the gun be charged with receiving stolen property rather than with the orginal theft? Of course, I wouldn't be surprised if the guy is a felon already. In that case he's hosed.

I am still thinking about the possible sentences, but I think the courts would call them "cruel and unusual" punishment.

[srothstein]

I am not up to date on Texas laws, but wouldn't the guy caught with the gun be charged with receiving stolen property rather than with the orginal theft?

Texas does not have a receiving stolen property or possession of stolen property laws. They, along with several others, were all consolidated into one chapter named theft (PC 31.03). So, the punishment is the same for the actual theft or the possession of the stolen weapon. It makes it easier to build a case now, since I don't have to prove how he got the firearm.

[Odin]

I seriuosly doubt that the guy caugfht with your stolen firearm will face any charges related to the theft of your firearm. All he has to do is claim that he bought the gun from soneone else and didn't know it was stolen, and since the serial number is intact and the crime was committed long ago he will have plausible deniability. Maybe the guy was a felon in possession of a firearm or something else, but as far as the theft of your gun goes I bet he walks with no charges. Remember, district attorneys are elected and they only like to take cases that are slam dunks (unless not taking the case will make them look worse than losing the case). There's no money, fame or political points won in charging an indigent criminal with a property crime. At least you'll get the gun back.

[stevie_d_64]

i purchased the g27 sometime between January and March of last year...
it was stolen in late may/early june from a gun safe that i kept in my closet at my old apartment.

The weapon was the only thing missing, not my nice speakers DVD player, guitars, pool cues, etc...
So i'm fairly certain it wasn't a crime of "opportunity"... so it was most likely someone i knew etc...
It's only a matter of time until the gent arrested spills his guts, and in turn i get to see the jerk who knowingly ripped me off spend some quality time with a 325lb roomate named "Tina"

I called the local PD that actually caught the guy, as he was arrested several hours from the original crime and asked the arresting officer a few q's about what happened... i didn't get very far, but he was very polite.

I've since invested in a much better safe, and now it never gets left at home either, as i carry almost 100% of the time.





hmm... what do you fella's think an appropriate punishment should be for theft of a firearm??

Tx says it's no less than 180 days, and not more than 2years... I'm thinking that you pretty much deserve to be buried alive with one round in the chamber of said stolen weapon... give you a few days to "ponder" your infraction.

Appropriate punishment???

Instead of "Tina", "Tony"...And Ten Years...

Glad this will end up good for you...G27 needs to come home...

[hoss4570]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lodge2004]

hmm... what do you fella's think an appropriate punishment should be for theft of a firearm??

Tx says it's no less than 180 days, and not more than 2years... I'm thinking that you pretty much deserve to be buried alive with one round in the chamber of said stolen weapon... give you a few days to "ponder" your infraction.

Many years ago in Houston, a guy staying next door burglarized my apartment and, among other things, stole a brand new Ruger .357. He was eventually convicted of "theft of a firearm" and sentenced to 9 months in jail.

As a side note, I was amazed at how many people are completely unwilling to take any stand against those who victimize them. After my burglary and the perp's subsequent shopping spree using stolen checks and ID, I was completely unable to convince ANY merchant or other victim to press charges. In one exchange, I spoke with a U-Haul representative and told him that I knew the location of two of his stolen trucks and would divulge that information if he would agree to press charges for their theft. He declined, so I told him "good luck on finding the trucks." It was the most frustrating and depressing experience I've ever had.

[WildBill]

Texas does not have a receiving stolen property or possession of stolen property laws. They, along with several others, were all consolidated into one chapter named theft (PC 31.03). So, the punishment is the same for the actual theft or the possession of the stolen weapon. It makes it easier to build a case now, since I don't have to prove how he got the firearm.

Thanks for the clarification!

[M9FAN]

As a side note, I was amazed at how many people are completely unwilling to take any stand against those who victimize them... In one exchange, I spoke with a U-Haul representative and told him that I knew the location of two of his stolen trucks and would divulge that information if he would agree to press charges for their theft. He declined, so I told him "good luck on finding the trucks."

Nice tactic. Good for you!

[Liko81]

As a side note, I was amazed at how many people are completely unwilling to take any stand against those who victimize them. After my burglary and the perp's subsequent shopping spree using stolen checks and ID, I was completely unable to convince ANY merchant or other victim to press charges. In one exchange, I spoke with a U-Haul representative and told him that I knew the location of two of his stolen trucks and would divulge that information if he would agree to press charges for their theft. He declined, so I told him "good luck on finding the trucks." It was the most frustrating and depressing experience I've ever had.

Let's look at the money side. U-haul is after all a business (a franchise one at that; decentralized) so actions taken are based on the almighty dollar. Quite simply, it will cost money to get involved in legal action to recover the trucks, will take months to resolve, and they may end up having to write the trucks off anyway as being unuseable. On the other hand, writing it off as theft is either a tax break for its replacement cost, or covered by insurance. Either way, it's resolved quickly and costs less to simply let it go. Virtually every business that deals in tangible goods makes arrangements for theft or loss that end up cheaper economically than using the government to attempt to recover it.