What to do?

[avcautoinc]

 

[spec4]

It is held in the property room. If the rightful owner comes forward and the gun wasn't used in a crime while it was out of their possession, it will be returned to them.

OK, but let's say a reasonable amount of time passes and nobody comes forward. Would the police dept. return it to the guy who turned it in? I know in Chicago it would be (nudge, nudge) destroyed.

 

[wizardfitz]

turn it in. I think in 90 days if no one claims it it's yours.

 

[findingZzero]

I happened upon a weapon. What should I do?

Keep it and say nothing?

Turn it into the police?



The idiot that lost it shouldn't have it.

The first thing I would do is to remve one of the 'O's' from your subject and give it to me. Wait...nevermind...

 

[Leadkrm]

So if I see you drop a $20 in the store, you don't deserve to have it.

Losing a firearm is uncomparably more irresponsible than losing money. A lost 20 can't kill a child if they pick it up. If I see someone drop money I return it to them if I see dropped money with no known source I keep it. I was only explaining an answer to your question. I don't agree with the op keeping it without checking out the serial number with law enforcement which I already stated in the 2nd post in the thread. I think if the owner can be found he should have his property returned. He didn't drop 20 bucks. He dropped 600 bucks that can kill someone who discovers it and can not properly handle the gun.

 

[whitetailbowhunter]

DID YOU FIND A WALLET WITH IT!? I'VE HEARD THAT THERE WAS ONCE A WALLET STOLEN BY A COP AND IS STILL MISSING?

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Basically a bill of sale with serial number on it?

It doesn't have to be that in depth, although that would help. Knowing where and how it was lost helps. A few years back I had a Glock still in the holster turned in. From the scarring on the Kydex and grip, along with the location, I figured some motorcyclist had lost it, as it had skidded for a bit before coming to rest. Someone called a few hours later and reported a lost firearm. He was able to say the route he rode, what kind of gun, what kind of holster, and he got it back.

As far as the gun being left behind, criminals stash their guns all the time. See the police coming? Duck in the bathroom and get rid of your dope and gun, if the police leave, return to collect it. They will set their guns on the tires of nearby parked cars, under a bush, etc. etc. Not every unattended gun was left there due to negligence. I had a Desert Eagle buried in a plastic bag under some mulch, and it had been there so long it was one solid chunk of rust. The stasher probably got picked up on a charge and didn't come back for it.

 

[hornadylnl]

It doesn't have to be that in depth, although that would help. Knowing where and how it was lost helps. A few years back I had a Glock still in the holster turned in. From the scarring on the Kydex and grip, along with the location, I figured some motorcyclist had lost it, as it had skidded for a bit before coming to rest. Someone called a few hours later and reported a lost firearm. He was able to say the route he rode, what kind of gun, what kind of holster, and he got it back.

As far as the gun being left behind, criminals stash their guns all the time. See the police coming? Duck in the bathroom and get rid of your dope and gun, if the police leave, return to collect it. They will set their guns on the tires of nearby parked cars, under a bush, etc. etc. Not every unattended gun was left there due to negligence. I had a Desert Eagle buried in a plastic bag under some mulch, and it had been there so long it was one solid chunk of rust. The stasher probably got picked up on a charge and didn't come back for it.

Thanks, this is absolutely reasonable. I was just curious what the threshold of proof was to prove ownership. It the OP had disclosed in this thread that he found it in the third stall of the front bathroom of Walmart on X street in Y city, there'd be several people trying to make a claim on it. Aside from looking at the OP's location (I can't see it in mobile mode), there's no evidence here for someone to give an accurate description to make a false claim. IE, describe the $20 bill you lost.

 

[IndyLongColt]

Yep, to the police I say.....but I see the concern. Regardless of why it was stashed, dropped, forgotten, etc... its pretty damn ignorant. A loaded gun is unlike any other piece of property. People drop, misplace, lose all kinds of things.....but a loaded gun?????? You have to be kidding me!!!!!!!!

I dont know what kind of "public place" this was found in, but this could VERY easily have turned out different with a kid finding it and pulling the trigger. Pretty sad.

 

[HeadlessRoland]

You don't know that the owner doesn't deserve his property back. The one thing you do know, it's not yours.

-

 

[BGDave]

Wonder if this is another "win a bet" thread. That or because of unusual phrasing we are all going to be Nigerian millionaires.

 

[85t5mcss]

Maybe read an old thread about guns being left behind in bathrooms or could be serious. Don't know. But, Frank has given you solid advice. I believe you get a receipt and if it's not claimed and not reported stolen or used in a crime then the property becomes yours after a predetermined amount of time.

Since you cant PM yet, you may ask a cop where to take it. If your West Side Indianapolis then there are plenty here who can help (only place I know is City-County Building and I'm not walking in there with a gun). Or call non-Emergency number.

 

[hopper68]

It would have been better to state "I found a gun today and turned it over to the police. If you think it might be yours contact (name of where turned in)." But that would still have brought out people to badmouth you for not giving the owner a chance to claim it before involving LEOs.

Thank you for securing the weapon and remember in the future turn the lost weapon over to the police before logging on the internet.

 

[seedubs1]

Did you happen to find it at the bottom of a river? I recently had a boating accident and lost all my guns. Hopefully you can help me recover them.

 

[Mackey]

Sorry, but I don't believe this dude found anything but himself on a gun forum with a lot of skeptical members.

It's a very nice handgun. One that I wish I owned myself. It's probably the most popular type carried.​

"The most popular type carried"

1911 or glock ...... hmmmm

Is it out of style to say "WHATEVER".?

 

[Mgderf]

Check here, HotGunz Stolen Gun Search

If it's not on there, it does NOT men it's not stolen, only that it has not been reported to this site.


On the other hand, if it IS listed then you KNOW it's stolen.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I believe you get a receipt and if it's not claimed and not reported stolen or used in a crime then the property becomes yours after a predetermined amount of time.

This will vary depending on local procedures. IMPD does not issue receipts, its all electronic, and the person will be listed in the system as "FINDER". As far as claiming it yourself if its never claimed by the original owner, I don't know as I've never had it come up. I'd have to ask the property room management how that works.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Check here, HotGunz Stolen Gun Search

If it's not on there, it does NOT men it's not stolen, only that it has not been reported to this site.


On the other hand, if it IS listed then you KNOW it's stolen.

You know it was reported stolen at one point. Do people always remove their gun from that site when its recovered? As the official databases say, "lead information only, must be verified with originating agency."

 

[Whitsettd8]

You are talking out your rear end. Guns turned in go into the property room. OP is the one that wants a free gun, not the cops.

And how long does property sit in the "property room" and after that time passes then what happens to it?

 

[Racechase1]

First turn it in. The butt you save may be your own.
Second , reading this thread why are LEO's dodging the answer to the big question? If I find a gun, turn it in, it's clean and no one claims it, as the finder , do I get to keep it?
Just a simple answer, do I get to keep it?