What was THIS IDIOT Thinking

[Don P]

From my local sherrifs depatment,
September 21, 2007
For immediate release
Contact: Brandon Haught, Public Information Office

SHERIFF'S OFFICE INVESTIGATING GUN THEFT

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is hoping that a reward of up to
$1,000 will help track down three guns stolen Thursday morning from
an Edgewater home under construction. Investigators would like to
quickly round up the weapons so that they don't wind up in the wrong
hands.

A man reported that he discovered at about 9 a.m. that the house he
is building at 150 Hazel Wood River Road had been broken into,
possibly through a rear window. The house is currently unoccupied. He
said that several electrical tools were missing along with three guns.
One gun is a Remington 700 bolt-action rifle with a tan stock and
blued barrel. Another gun is a Ruger 10/22 semi-automatic rifle with
a walnut stock. The final weapon is a J.C. Higgins .22 semi-automatic
rifle. Also taken was a suppressor for an M4 .223 caliber rifle. No
suspects have been identified yet.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact
Sheriff's investigator Ricardo Acevedo at (386) 423-3301 or Crime
Stoppers of Northeast Florida toll-free at 1-888-277-TIPS. Callers to
Crime Stoppers will remain anonymous and can qualify for a reward of
up to $1,000.

IMHO this person should do time just for being THIS STUPID!!!!:barf:

 

[ConfuseUs]

If the house was complete enough to have windows, doors and locks on it then I suppose the guy had a reasonable expectation that his stuff was secured. Thus it does not seem to me as if the guy was criminally stupid or should be locked up for having HIS stuff STOLEN. I say find the perp and lock up the perp, not the owner. Why blame the victim because the victim's tools, guns and suppressor got stolen? Is it just because his weapons were stolen?:barf:

I do wonder why he was keeping hunting rifles and a suppressor in the house under construction but there isn't enough info to fit that into context.

 

[Don P]

That was all that was sent in the email alerts I get from the sherrif's dept. My point is, House under CONSTRUCTION, guns left inside UNSECURED. Maybe it's me, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out this house is EMPTY and a easy target which some dirt bag figured out!. Would it be safe to say that a RESPONCEABLE gun owner would have done a better job of securing and protecting his investment. I understand the tools being left at the house for ease of things. Depending where and how many other homes are in the area either being lived in or being built would even dictate whether the tools should be left behind.
Now on a second note, for ALL the DIRT BAGS to see they now know a house where there is the possibility of having more guns to be had in the future.

 

[Tom2]

I ask myself that same question many times a day. But as for the guy with the guns, why would your guns be the first thing you would move into a house you are building, and why not hidden? Sounds almost like a setup to me. Well not like they will be used in holdups, probably pawned.

 

[Yellowfin]

If you can afford a suppressor, you can afford a safe to keep it in OR the brains to keep it somewhere near you where you can watch it. Those things are $200 just to be able to legally own it.

 

[homefires]

First thing I would do is change contractors! It was a inside job I bet!

 

[kirkcdl]

I can't speak from personal experience,but I think there are special rules regarding security when you own any NFA items...If so,that guy's in a bit of trouble from the BATF...

 

[Don H]

guns left inside UNSECURED.

What gives you the idea they were unsecured? The missing electrical tools could well have been used to break into an expensive safe or vault. There's also nothing in the alert to indicate that the house is NEW construction - it could be having some remodeling done - the phrase "The house is currently unoccupied" reinforces this idea since it implies that the house has been occupied in the past.

 

[Mike Irwin]

You give me half an hour or so, a circular saw, and a stack of silicon carbide cutoff disks and I can get into just about any gun safe made.

 

[MDman]

You give me half an hour or so, a circular saw, and a stack of silicon carbide cutoff disks and I can get into just about any gun safe made.

how about my oxy/acetylene torch?

 

[Hemicuda]

Oxy-Actylene torch? I'll match you that, and raise you one portable plasma-cutter... LOL

 

[deanf]

Any gun stored inside a locked residence is secured. It's behind lock and key.

This idea that people have to double lock their guns inside their own house so as to be described as "responsible" is galling to me.

 

[rampage841512]

Sounds like the house was finished from what was posted above. "Under Construction" could mean that while structurally secure, it might not have had electrical work done, the dry wall put up, or may just still be in need of painting.

 

[john1911]

What was THIS IDIOT Thinking

He was probably thinking he should be able to leave his stuff in his house without some scumbag walking off with it. Same way I think.

 

[Mike Irwin]

"how about my oxy/acetylene torch?"

Problem with that is that you tend to set fire to the things inside the safe. You'll certainly get in, but if you've set fire to the contents, why bother.

 

[skeeter1]

Having moved from one house to another some years ago, I took my expensive toys (guns, cameras, electronics, etc.) from one house to the next in my car rather than depend on the movers. Once I got enough things to the new house, then I moved in there, even though I had no furniture yet. I slept in a sleeping bag on the floor. It would be nice to have everything all moved all at once, but I doubt that hardly anyone actually has that happen. I can't blame the guy, because it could just as well have happened to me.

 

[AZEX]

His stuff is headed to Mexihole. Along with the folks who stole them.

Welcome to Aztlan.

D.

 

[Tanzer]

Well not like they will be used in holdups, probably pawned.

.....And THEN used in hold-ups.

Doesn't seem that all the info is here. In general, It is reasonable to assume that under lock and key is sufficient, since the perp had to physically remove the barrier protecting the guns.
If I go out without locking the doors and leave a gun on my coffee table, I am negligent. If I lock my doors, and keep the guns even in a locked closet -not a gun safe, I believe I can reasonably state that I took precautions, and that noone just "happened by" and took them.