You finally find a great deal on a handgun you’ve been eyeing for months. Fast forward a couple of years—you walk out to your car one morning and find that your window has been smashed and things inside your car are strewn about.
Is My Gun Stolen?
The unfortunate reality is this is one of the most common incidents we see: stolen guns. Here are the three critical mistakes we see folks make when it comes to stolen guns:
Report Lost or Stolen Guns
The first big mistake is not keeping records of your firearms. If your firearm is stolen, you’re going to need to know the make, model, and serial number to report it stolen to the police. It’s common for people to buy a gun and never write down this information until it’s too late.
The next critical mistake we see is people not reporting the gun as stolen at the time the incident occurs. When you realize that your firearm has been stolen, the first thing to do is call the police and report it. Once it’s reported, the police will enter the firearm as stolen into a gun serial number database used by law enforcement.
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How to Report Stolen Guns Without the Serial Number
If you don’t have the serial number of your stolen firearm available, you can contact the FFL where you purchased the weapon. They’re required to maintain records of sales and, with some minor information from you, they can recover the serial number of your missing gun.
If the FFL or dealer you purchased your gun from is no longer in business, don’t worry. You can still report your firearm stolen! Local law enforcement may be able to request a records search from the National Tracing Center. However, this request can usually only be made in connection with an ongoing criminal investigation surrounding the lost or stolen firearm.
Following Up on Your Stolen Guns Report
The last mistake is not following up with law enforcement. Sometimes the firearm’s info is not properly entered or, when it’s recovered by police, you’re not notified. Many police departments will periodically trace a gun by serial number and follow-up with you to make sure it’s still missing. But if they don’t, it’s smart to follow up with law enforcement every year or so to check on the status of your lost or stolen gun.
Run a Gun Serial Number
Are you buying a gun from a private seller and want to know how to see who it’s registered to, to make sure it wasn’t stolen? You can look up a gun by serial number before you buy, by calling either your local police department or a local FFL you trust to run a gun serial number check for you. The FFL may charge you a small fee but they can easily see who the gun is registered to, while law enforcement will only be able to see guns that have been reported lost or stolen.
To review, the best way to ensure you either recover a stolen firearm or are not associated with any crimes committed with your lost or stolen gun, it’s important to keep the proper documentation. Report the firearm as stolen to the police at the time it’s stolen and follow up with law enforcement on the status of the gun, periodically.
The steps that I’ve just described are the same if your firearm happens to get lost, instead of stolen. Except when you notify law enforcement, let them know that the gun is lost and not stolen.
Note: These are important tips and steps that you can take to deal with lost or stolen guns. Some jurisdictions have additional legal requirements above and beyond those described in this presentation. When you report a gun lost or stolen to your local law enforcement, it’s recommended that you ask them about any additional requirements, immediately call U.S. LawShield, and ask to speak to your Independent Program Attorney.
Further Reading: What is CCW Insurance, And Why Do I Need Coverage?
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The information provided in this presentation is intended to provide general information to individuals and is not legal advice. The information included in this publication may not be quoted or referred to in any other publication without the prior written consent of U.S. LawShield, to be given or withheld at our discretion. The information is not a substitute for, and does not replace the advice or representation of a licensed attorney. We strive to ensure the information included in this publication is accurate and current, however, no claim is made to the accuracy of the information and we are not responsible for any consequences that may result from the use of information in this publication. The use of this publication does not create an attorney-client relationship between U.S. LawShield, any independent program attorney, and any individual.
In a pinch, and if you bought the gun within the last 20 years from a dealer, they will have a record of the sale. I’ve had a few occasions where people have called me to get the serial number for just such a reason. We have to keep the 4473 paper record for 20 years. Some stores now keep records electronically also. If they have to dig in a storage unit from 17 years ago, though, expect to pay them a research fee. That’s only fair. If it’s a few second search on a computer, they’ll likely do that for free.
First mistake, leaving an unsecured firearm in a vehicle.Especially when at home or anywhere. You could be held responseable in some case’s. Think about it, what other crimes the thief might commit with your stolen firearm.
W.Phillips
First mistake is being alive. Any other mistakes cannot be avoided 100%, humans do not function on a mechanical level nor is good advice necessarily good advice. Good advice comes from those who have made the mistakes so what makes them suddenly trustworthy or wise? Learning can only come from making mistakes and if mistakes were painful learning is quicker.
Criminals (thieves) know the mistakes people make: people allows government to run their lives but constraint on actually protecting their lives. You cannot protect your possessions with anything more than a lock. Your hard work and cherished or prized possessions have no meaning to anyone and are of no value, that is until you are strapped for cash and then your friends will swoop in and help you by offering pennies on the dollar…
I have been victimized by thieves I have lost count of the number. I feel it is a shame one cannot stop a thief with deadly force, not actual killing but force enough to stop the theft. If the thief succumbs then too bad for them.
Best advice I heard was never leave firearm unsecured. it should be with you, in your house or locked in glove box or console if you go into a place you cannot take it.
That seems like common sense which I hope owners have,
My son’s gun was stolen, and he reported it to police. After a series of follow-up calls to the police, it was revealed that the thief had been apprehended, and the charge was possession of stolen property. Good. So, when does my son get his firearm returned. Not so fast! they said. We need it for evidence. Every time over the ensuing eleven months, my son was directed to a different officer. Be patient. OK. Then finally, one day, they said “Who told you it was possession of stolen property? The thief was committing other crimes.” When do we get the firearm back? “Be patient.” Months later, and many phone calls, I spoke with a department officer. “”Oh, that gun? We destroyed it months ago. It was no longer needed.” What? How could that happen? We are on record as calling! “Sorry, we don’t have those records.”
Never got the gun, or compensation, for that matter, from the police.
Yet another reason to make sure no one steals your gun.
I had my gun stolen from a break in of my home in June of 2019. I reported it stolen immediately with serial number etc. The police contacted me about 3 weeks later stating they had seized my firearm in a traffic stop. I filed the legal paperwork to retrieve my property. They have done nothing but pie to me, plscate me, ignore me and insult my intelligence at every turn. I even threatened to sue the department for theft of my property. They pretend they are trying to get it back to me and whisper sweet nothings in my ear but here it is oct of 2020 and still nothing. This should be illegal. I contacted a few attorneys and they will not help. What do I do?
That’s total BS on that department’s part. That’s embarrassing. How big is the cities populous vs working cops. To let a firearm slip through the owner’s hands and let it be destroyed sounds like shear laziness and a give a sh— attitude to me.
I had my pistol stolen from either my landlord or someone with him. The police are not doing anything about it. I don’t have the serial number with me due to moving. The cops keep pushing me off on it. I have been told that I need to talk to the city marshal and he says the cops.
What if I think I know who took my fire arm?
Report it!…because it’s the responsible and safe thing to do.
Don’t do it to get your property back. The ‘police’(or whoever) don’t care about you and your property, unless you’re giving them a reason to arrest you at take your money.
Funny how the philosophy’s that crafted our judicial system are based on compassion for for the victim(s), and not revenge and punishment. Yet it’s the victims that get neglected during the process of justice.
Compensation- not compassion
Hi Everyone new here proud gun owner and still learning all i need to about the laws. Im in Michigan and have a question to see if someone can help me kinda long but please give me a minute.
So a neighbor of mine close to 2 years ago asked me to store a few very old rifles of which was her husbands due to she thought he would harm her. Few months later they divorced and her husband called me wanting them back or he was gonna call the cops. So rifles were returned back to the original owner. Now here we are 17 months later. And shes accusing me of stealing them and she is gonna call the cops. Even after seeing proof of the conversation with the ex. she just told us he was strung out on crack and might have pawned them and lord and behold thats whats happened cause he told her he didnt get them…. ( these were suppose to be split up in the divorce)
Her son came over today hung out and i even let him see my collection to see i didnt have anything of theirs….. My question is now what should i be expecting ? cops banging on my doors and freaking my dogs and landlord out or is this something that they will laugh about seeing shes reporting it almost 2 years later….. Sorry for the rant. Ive never had police contact before and i know with my anxiety i tense up and cant even talk straight. Any advice is useful thank u in advance.
If I report my gun stolen is there any possibility of an unexpected visit to my home address by police officers for further questioning? I Need to make a report however given my current situation living with parents aware that I bought a handgun let alone that it’s missing after a car break in recently :/ my state does not require missing or stolen guns to be reported but I really don’t want to get in any trouble god forbid it ends up being involved in something shady but if it’s found then I want it back. Should I just go to the police station in person to avoid any visits or are over the phone reports usually enough for them?
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I bought a gun in March and I just had one of em stolen I have the serial number.. what do I do to get a new one? I have my serial number and I have no clue who took it.
Will the store that sold it to me get me a new one
Sorry to break it to the author of this article but by far the biggest mistake us leaving unsecured in the first place. Only an imbecile leaves a firearm in a car overnight or for that matter unattended in an unsecured area for any significant length of time at all.