Dam Thiefs

MikeK · #1 03-07-2011

My truck got broke into at the gym yesterday and they took my wallet binos and my tikka t3 lite LH 25-06 with a VXL 4-14x50 BC., it was in in Grande Prairie if one turns up any where . And the cops said I could be charged with improper storage of a firearm because it waqs in my back seat nit locked in a case Is this True ?

canuck · #2 03-07-2011

If the rifle (even cased) was laying on the backseat in plain view, yes, you could be charged with unsafe storage and have your PAL revoked as well (doubt they would go that far though)
Please don't say your wallet was on the dash and binos laying on the passenger seat as well?!!

fishnut9 · #3 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeK

My truck got broke into at the gym yesterday and they took my wallet binos and my tikka t3 lite LH 25-06 with a VXL 4-14x50 BC., it was in in Grande Prairie if one turns up any where . And the cops said I could be charged with improper storage of a firearm because it waqs in my back seat nit locked in a case Is this True ?

You don't need to lock it up. Just tell them you had the gun hidden under the seat. Which is legal by the way. But the thieves found it anyways. you are allowed to transport guns as
long as its out of site with an open action. Just say everything was hidden but was found by the thieves.

BuckMaster101 · #4 03-07-2011

My buddy had the same thing happen last summer on the last day of hunting season. Tell the cops it was under your cloths or under the seat out of sight and there is nothing they can charge you with. It has to be out of sight. Now lots of cops don't now all the rules so if you get any charges talk to a supervisor, That's what my buddy did and he was never charged. Also make sure you tell your insurance company the doors were locked. They can deny a claim if they weren't.

Alberta Bigbore · #5 03-07-2011

wow does that ever suck .. hope they recover some of what you lost

Lefty-Canuck · #6 03-07-2011

Go to this link...and print it out....and keep it in your truck, gun cases, wallet, cabin, quad, etc...

Having this little peice of paper can save you issues by offering THEM the info they need to make an informed decision and YOU the info you need so they don't have to make an informed decision.

http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cfp-pcaf/f...posage-eng.pdf

See section about leaving a firearm in a vehicle unattended....

Lefty

huntinstuff · #7 03-07-2011

Strange that the police would consider charging the victim of the crime

Then again, its a lot easier than investigating and finding the person responsible

Im sure your rifle was unloaded and out of sight and the truck locked? If so, you have nothing to worry about

Redfrog · #8 03-07-2011

I hate thieves and have been fortunate enough to catch a few in the act. Very satisfying. for me , not so much for them.

I have trouble with understanding the thinking here sometimes. People post that the cops sometimes don't know the firearms regs, but the OP is asking about storage regs.
Guys hate thieves but suggest telling the insurance company the doors were locked whether they were or not.

If you have firearms learn the rules. It makes all gun owners look bad when you don't. Lock your truck and put your 'goodies' out of sight.

Do all these things and a thief may still damage your truck and steal your stuff, so call the insurance company with your clear conscience.

One of the biggest problems with these events is that when the perp is caught he doesn't get much punishment, and it's a fine line we walk if we happen to catch them in the act.

Okotokian · #9 03-07-2011

Sorry for your loss, truly, but why on earth would you have a valuable firearm in your vehicle when you are going to the gym? And no, this is not a "people don't need to have guns" argument. It's the same one I'd make if you had lost a $1200 diamond ring stolen. Don't have anything valuable in your vehicle that you aren't transporting for a reason or going to be using immediately.

And from what you described it does sound like you broke the law:

From thefirearms act regarding unattended vehicle while transporting a firearm-
"b) when the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be securely locked, the non-restricted firearm is not visible from outside the vehicle and the vehicle, or the part that contains the non-restricted firearm, is securely locked."

rugatika · #10 03-07-2011

Recidivit. One strike, you get off with a little time. Two strikes. Goodnight Irene, kiss the family goodbye, sell the car, buy some vaseline, you just got yourself a 20 year stint in the crowbar hotel. No darn reason why good honest citizens should have to live amongst so many of these scumbags.

Dollars to donuts, the police in GP have a pretty short list of the people that are likely to have committed this crime as they have likely been picked up several times for similar crap.

u_cant_rope_the_wind · #11 03-07-2011

allot of people have the wrong impression of storing fire arms, I,ll use a glass front display cabinet as an example, the ones that have closed doors doors, with locks on them as long as the doors are locked, and trigger locks are in place or the the bolts are removed, they are deemed stored safe, there has been a lot of really beautiful oak gun cabinets thrown out, and replaced with cheap crappy tire gun storage cabinets, because people thought they weren't legal any more. same as transporting them , as long as they are out of sight of the general public's view, thus no more red neck gun racks in the back windows of pick em ups , behind the seal is out of sight , wrapped up in a clothes or a blanket is out of sight,

rugatika · #12 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Sorry for your loss, truly, but why on earth would you have a valuable firearm in your vehicle when you are going to the gym? And no, this is not a "people don't need to have guns" argument. It's the same one I'd make if you had lost a $1200 diamond ring stolen. Don't have anything valuable in your vehicle that you aren't transporting for a reason or going to be using immediately.

Yes...good points Oko. Or for that matter, why even drive a nice vehicle right? Just asking to get it stolen. And women, don't wear short dresses or makeup....you're just asking to get raped. If you wear a nice suit downtown, you can expect to get mugged, or if you drive a nice car and live in a nice home, you are asking to get your kids kidnapped.

Jiminy jillikers!!

And how did he break the law. I'm assuming the gun was locked inside the vehicle out of view as it should have been. No variance from the law there.

This is actually the fault of the justice system...because I guaranfargintee ya, this guy has done the same thing before and in all likelihood is no stranger to a judge....a friendly liberal judge....a friendly liberal judge that thinks putting criminals in jail is cruel.

Andrzej · #13 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnut9

You don't need to lock it up. Just tell them you had the gun hidden under the seat. Which is legal by the way. But the thieves found it anyways. you are allowed to transport guns as
long as its out of site with an open action. Just say everything was hidden but was found by the thieves.

Open action ??? not in regulations as far as I am aware. Out of sight that's all.

sullijr · #14 03-07-2011

Where is your sign?

Redfrog · #15 03-07-2011

When I lived on the left coast, we had a break in at my house. I had a business and had people coming and going at all hours of the day. It was impossible to pattern the traffic.

The thieves broke in mid day. Stole a bunch of stuff and left. My wife had been gone a couple hour max.

Called the cops and they came out the next day and took prints and info and wished us luck.
One of the items stolen was a video camera. The cops called a few days later. they had found the camera in a bunch of other stolen property.
When I saw the camera I told the cop it wasn't mine. Same model but a year newer or older. He suggested I was mistaken and should take this camera as no one else would come for it and there was no chance for them to find my stuff.
I had wasted enough time with this guy so I took it home. There was a cassette in it and when I played it, the perps were on it doing drugs while one of them ran the video.

The place was stacked high with loot. drugs all over the tables etc.
Back to the cop shop. I was told they knew who the perps were had arrested them SEVERAL times and NONE had gone to jail. Likely they wouldn't this time either. He told me of personal items destroyed by these creeps that had no street value and could never be replaced.

So where is the problem.

I learned plenty from that experience, re cops, insurance etc. but my fingers are sore, so another time./

Okotokian · #16 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by rugatika

Yes...good points Oko. Or for that matter, why even drive a nice vehicle right? Just asking to get it stolen. And women, don't wear short dresses or makeup....you're just asking to get raped. If you wear a nice suit downtown, you can expect to get mugged, or if you drive a nice car and live in a nice home, you are asking to get your kids kidnapped.

Just in the mood to go this morning Ruga? Not even any "good morning Oko"? LOL

Ok. So how about you take every dollar out of your bank account in cash, park your car at a c-train station, and leave the cash on the front seat. Willing to do that? I mean, in a law abiding society we should be able to do that without worry.

No? Maybe because that would be STUPID? LOL
Pedestrians have the right of way in a crosswalk too, but I wouldn't advocate just walking into one without looking.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rugatika

And how did he break the law. I'm assuming the gun was locked inside the vehicle out of view as it should have been. No variance from the law there.

I'm just going from his original post where he said he left it in the back seat not in a locked case. Doesn't sound out of view. Now if he misdescribed how he left it and it was actually out of sight, then I happily stand corrected.

rugatika · #17 03-07-2011

What possible practical reason would there be for leaving cash on the front seat of my truck? None. I can completely understand leaving a rifle in your truck when you go the gym though. It's wolf/coyote season and if you do any driving out of the city you likely have your varmint rifle with you at all times in case a situation presents itself. Get into town, stop at the gym and voila. Many people have a rifle in their truck as a matter of course. Not everyone drives from their house to downtown calgary and back again. And not everyone gets their rifle out once or twice a season for the sole purpose of going hunting that day or going to the range. Some of us have them in our trucks just like any other tool.

I typically have a camera, rifle or shotgun (depending on season), a couple thousand dollars in testing equip for work, etc etc. that I need to have in my truck. If I had to empty my truck everynight when I got home, or into the hotel room when on the road, or everytime I went to the grocery store, gym, mall, whatever, I'd be spending half my life shuffling stuff from the house into the truck and back again. I always keep my rifle out of sight as per law, and try and throw some coveralls (those are things us working people wear out in the field to keep our armani suit clean) over my camera, test equip etc.

And whenever I empty all the cash out of my bank account, I put all 40 bucks into my pocket.

And yeah...if he left the rifle or anything valuable out in plain sight...not a good move.

PS: I'm always good to go.

lol. Good morning.

TUFFBUFF · #18 03-07-2011

There is only 1 officer in GP that knows anything about the gun laws, don't worry about it for now. If you need some help PM me and I'll give you a number or two.

The first thing they may want to know is why were you carrying it when hunting season is over? - coyotes is a great awnser.
In the back seat/on the floor out of sight (soft cased/sheet over it), nothing they can do.

ganderblaster · #19 03-07-2011

Oko could we try to stay positive and go with the flow today? Thanks.

ehntr · #20 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Sorry for your loss, truly, but why on earth would you have a valuable firearm in your vehicle when you are going to the gym? And no, this is not a "people don't need to have guns" argument. It's the same one I'd make if you had lost a $1200 diamond ring stolen. Don't have anything valuable in your vehicle that you aren't transporting for a reason or going to be using immediately.

And from what you described it does sound like you broke the law:

From thefirearms act regarding unattended vehicle while transporting a firearm-
"b) when the vehicle is not equipped with a trunk or similar compartment that can be securely locked, the non-restricted firearm is not visible from outside the vehicle and the vehicle, or the part that contains the non-restricted firearm, is securely locked."

From reading the OP's one and only post..............no law was broken. He specifically asks in his post if he could be charged for having a firearm not in a locked case. No is the answer.

FCLightning · #21 03-07-2011

He can be charged for having it visible in an unattended vehicle.

Okotokian · #22 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by ganderblaster

Oko could we try to stay positive and go with the flow today? Thanks.

All I said was to be careful about leaving stuff that is valuable visible in your car. How on earth could that be interpreted as being negative. I said I was sorry for his loss. I think it's wrong that we have to hide things, but in the world we live in, we apparently do, as evidenced by the OP's unfortunate experience.

Okotokian · #23 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by FCLightning

He can be charged for having it visible in an unattended vehicle.

Absolutely. That's why I posted the quote from the firearms act regulations. But apparently that's being negative.

LOL And do I think he should be charged? No, just saying he could be. Just a rational discussion of the facts and the law as each of us understands it.

HunterDave · #24 03-07-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Okotokian

Sorry for your loss, truly, but why on earth would you have a valuable firearm in your vehicle when you are going to the gym? And no, this is not a "people don't need to have guns" argument. It's the same one I'd make if you had lost a $1200 diamond ring stolen. Don't have anything valuable in your vehicle that you aren't transporting for a reason or going to be using immediately.

Haven't you ever stopped anywhere when you had a rifle in your truck? I have, lots of times.........Canadian Tire for bullets, etc. Some fellas that I know have a rifle in their truck all year round and likely make plenty of stops at places. GPS, satellite radios, etc are valuable, easy to steal items but they stay in the truck....well, most times. I don't think that the OP was out of line with having a rifle in his truck.

If you said that your rifle was on the back seat you'd better hope that you have dark tinted windows. If it was in plain view on the back seat then IMHO you could be charged. What you probably meant to say was that it was on the floor in the back seat. That would be different.

ram crazy · #25 03-07-2011

[QUOTE=MikeK;858856]My truck got broke into at the gym yesterday and they took my wallet binos and my tikka t3 lite LH 25-06 with a VXL 4-14x50 BC., it was in in Grande Prairie if one turns up any where . And the cops said I could be charged with improper storage of a firearm because it waqs in my back seat nit locked in a case Is this True ?

Lone_Wolf · #26 03-07-2011

Sorry to hear that. I have never had anything stolen, but I can just imagine how frustrating it is. Hopefully you get your stuff back and they catch the SOB(s).

rugatika · #27 03-07-2011

AND...hopefully Oko learns to quit being so negative.

BrownBear416 · #28 03-07-2011

Nothing wrong with packing a gun in your truck year round as long as your truck was locked and the gun was out of sight you have nothing to worry about.

If I had to make my truck thief proof everynight when i parked it I would never get any sleep considering the time required to load and unload it..

rugatika · #29 03-07-2011

So what happens when you leave your house? Do you pack all your guns up and take them with you everywhere you go? What if someone breaks into your house and steals your guns? Is that your fault for leaving them behind?

Mountain Guy · #30 03-07-2011

That really sucks to lose that stuff. I'd be fuming.
But....my guess is that there wouldn't have been a break-in if there wasn't a gun,bino and wallet in the truck

It is sad that we have to be cognizant of what we have in our vehicles and whether we want to lose it to thieves......but it is reality. I minimize any opportunity to lose stuff by not having it in the vehicle if I don't need it.
Don't know the whole story but guessing he didn't need his gun and bino's while working out at the gym.
An ounce of prevention.............