AZ: Machine gun stolen from deputy's car

[seamusTX]

In Pinal County, Arizona, a sheriff's deputy reported the theft of a Colt M-16A1 automatic rifle, Taser X-26 and its loaded cartridge, and a Glock 27 pistol from his agency-owned unmarked car, which was parked outside his house at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/guns/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't bother looking, dude. The rifle probably is in Mexico already.

Doesn't every new car come with a burglar alarm?

- Jim

[C-dub]

Maybe it wasn't armed or maybe the alarm doesn't cover the trunk. IDK

[Keith B]

In Pinal County, Arizona, a sheriff's deputy reported the theft of a Colt M-16A1 automatic rifle, Taser X-26 and its loaded cartridge, and a Glock 27 pistol from his agency-owned unmarked car, which was parked outside his house at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.

http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/guns/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Don't bother looking, dude. The rifle probably is in Mexico already.

Doesn't every new car come with a burglar alarm?

- Jim

No, there are not burglar alarms in most cars from the factory. The security system that is there is just a vehicle anti-theft device so if you have no smart-chip key it can't be started, or maybe a security device so the radio can't be used outside of that vehicle without reprogramming it. However, the pro's can get around those pretty easily. For safety, about the only thing you have is a panic button on the remote. A true burglar alarm has sensors for rapid changes in electrical current flow, shocks and/or glass break and even sounds sensors inside the car. I installed one on my 2006 vehicle after it was broken into in my driveway.

[seamusTX]

I'm not up on what's installed in cars these days. My car has a factory-installed alarm, but maybe that's because it's a higher-end model (Accord EX).

It's ironic that a cop car can be burglarized this way.

- Jim

[C-dub]

I'm not up on what's installed in cars these days. My car has a factory-installed alarm, but maybe that's because it's a higher-end model (Accord EX).

It's ironic that a cop car can be burglarized this way.

- Jim

Actually, I'd be willing to bet it becomes more common once the BGs figure out that some of them leave their machine guns in the car over night.

[seamusTX]

Most car burglars want stuff they can sell or pawn quickly without being identified. A machine gun stolen for the cops is difficult to dispose of and a guaranteed ten years minimum in the slammer if anyone is caught with it.

It also is not all that useful as a crime weapon. It sounds like good gangster cred, but the magazine is empty before anyone knows what happened.

- Jim

[Keith B]

I'm not up on what's installed in cars these days. My car has a factory-installed alarm, but maybe that's because it's a higher-end model (Accord EX).

It's ironic that a cop car can be burglarized this way.

- Jim

Yeah, there are some makes/models that do have factory alarm systems in them. The Accord EX alarm was a basic system that looked for doors/trunk/hood being opened and then triggered. There was not a shock or glass break sensor from the factory. I do believe there are some other European makes that have alarms (Audi, Mercedes, BMW), but I know my LT Suburban doesn't have anything other than an anti-theft system.

I can't see any police agency NOT putting in an alarm system in a vehicle when they added the lights and other electrical accessories. A decent system would only cost them at most between $100 -$150 their cost and at least alert the officer to someone messing with the car.

[flb_78]

I wonder if it was one of the guns that David Spade bought for Arizona.

[E.Marquez]

Both of our mustangs have active and passive alarms, door/. trunk sensors, sonic sensors, and voltage monitoring as does our F350 and GMC Canyon. I never considered, all modern cars were not so equipped..

In any case, you would think law enforcement departments that let LEO's take patrol cars home would ensure they came with one, or have them installed. And that's on top of what I would consider a bad choice of leaving ANY weapon in a vehicle over night....

[seamusTX]

The Accord EX alarm was a basic system that looked for doors/trunk/hood being opened and then triggered. There was not a shock or glass break sensor from the factory.

That's correct.

I don't know how many car burglars break glass. That makes noise. They typically pop the trunk or jimmy a door (if the owner bothered locking the vehicle).

Even if they break a window they have to open the door to search the vehicle, which triggers the alarm.

Not to get off-topic or anything, but I've never known a shock sensor to do anyone any good. They go off all the time because of wind or something. One of my lazy neighbors has one, and he doesn't even come out to check the vehicle.

- Jim

[C-dub]

The Accord EX alarm was a basic system that looked for doors/trunk/hood being opened and then triggered. There was not a shock or glass break sensor from the factory.

That's correct.

I don't know how many car burglars break glass. That makes noise. They typically pop the trunk or jimmy a door (if the owner bothered locking the vehicle).

Even if they break a window they have to open the door to search the vehicle, which triggers the alarm.

Not to get off-topic or anything, but I've never known a shock sensor to do anyone any good. They go off all the time because of wind or something. One of my lazy neighbors has one, and he doesn't even come out to check the vehicle.

- Jim

Two trucks ago I had a shock sensor that was adjustable. I never had any trouble with thunder or weather, but if I hit the driver's or passenger's window hard it would set it off. The truck was never broken into, so I don't know it smashing the window with something like a crow bar or one of those shattering tools would have set it off.

If I were a BG and wanted to steal a LEOs "machine gun" I would probably rather destroy the serial number(s) and just keep it.

[AEA]

I'm not up on what's installed in cars these days. My car has a factory-installed alarm, but maybe that's because it's a higher-end model (Accord EX).

It's ironic that a cop car can be burglarized this way.

- Jim

Actually, I'd be willing to bet it becomes more common once the BGs figure out that some of them leave their machine guns in the car over night.

And who do you you think the "some of them" are? They are SWAT! You would think they and their Commanders would have better sense!

[gringo pistolero]

I wonder if that's the real story. In any event, I hope the taxpayers hold him responsible for the replacement costs, as any of my employers would have held me responsible if I left company property in a car overnight and the property was stolen.

[C-dub]

I wonder if that's the real story. In any event, I hope the taxpayers hold him responsible for the replacement costs, as any of my employers would have held me responsible if I left company property in a car overnight and the property was stolen.

I'm confident that it's real. I seem to remember this happening to at least two different officers last year where in addition their weapons a Kevlar vest was taken from at least one of them. Just Google "weapons stolen from police car" and see what you get.

[seamusTX]

It's unlikely that a police officer would steal a machine gun. There's not much of an upside, and the downside risk is terrible.

That said, cops sometimes do stupid things and get caught.

- Jim