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Newark PD refuses to take report of stolen gun

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:46 am
by Chuck
My niece's carry gun, Bersa .380 was stolen from her home two weeks ago, today I think.
She called me crying her eyes out and I sent her to the police station to report it stolen in compliance with the law.
The officer refused to make a report because she didn't have the serial number of the gun. So I sent her back to try again, with the additional instruction of getting the guy's name and badge number if he refused to make the report again.
The law says all stolen guns must be reported.

Meanwhile, she's been pursuing the matter on her own, asking the friends of the guy she suspected of taking it, and this morning called to let me know a friend of hers bought it off the street for $50 from the person who took it off the thief's hands and she has it back. She says it is damaged, the mechanical safety removed and other things. I'll see it tomorrow myself.

My questions are:
What do I do about it now?
I intended on sending the police chief a nasty-gram but hadn't gotten around to it yet. Should I go demand he do something about this little meth head and the people who buy guns off of him?

Re: Newark PD refuses to take report of stolen gun

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:51 am
by Brian D.
If you lean in on him, be sure to record it. (I know you know that, but I'm speaking from personal experience here.) Chief getting lippy or threatening whilst in uniform can get you some traction with HIS superiors.

Re: Newark PD refuses to take report of stolen gun

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 6:55 am
by JediSkipdogg
I would definitely complain to the Chief about the refusal to take a report. Sure, a serial number is helpful, but law says it must be reported and stolen firearms are big deals and reports should be made regardless. The report can always be amended to include the serial number so proper entry into NCIC can be made.

As for your second part....that's a tough one and one I can't answer since I don't know the police up there. Down here, since she has the property back, there really isn't much the courts will do.

Re: Newark PD refuses to take report of stolen gun

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:23 am
by carmen fovozzo
Does the Narc have a record ? Is he a felon ?

Re: Newark PD refuses to take report of stolen gun

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 7:44 am
by ArmedAviator
I don't have any advice on the situation at hand. I do however find it maddening that this is yet another failure of law enforcement to enforce/abide by the gun laws already on the books (upon books, upon more books).

Re: Newark PD refuses to take report of stolen gun

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 1:01 pm
by Brian D.
I had a firearm stolen out of my pickup truck's locked, aluminum diamond plate tool box. I gave a report to an officer who met me nearby. Following up a week or so later, I found that the information hadn't yet been entered in the National Crime Information Center computer database. Long story short, this department didn't EVER bother with entering stolen property data into the NCIC, unless someone forced their hand on the matter.

Re: Newark PD refuses to take report of stolen gun

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:50 pm
by WhyNot
Sent U a PM 8)

Re: Newark PD refuses to take report of stolen gun

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2018 8:04 am
by willbird
Chiefs of Police work for a village council usually. Writing a polite letter to them detailing all that went on might bring come changes.