Posted on 08/09/2008 6:19:32 PM PDT by Jeff Gordon
I am looking for a freeper in the LA area who would be willing help me out.
I received a latter in the mail from the LA Police Department. They have recovered a firearm that was stolen from me over a decade ago. They would like to return it to me however there is a catch.
I, or my "agent," has to pick up the firearm at a LA police station. They will dispose of the firearm at the end of October if I do not pick it up before then. My problem is that I live is San Jose and never have occasion to be in LA
I am looking for a LA freeper who would be willing to act as my agent, pick up the firearm and UPS it up to me. I would be willing to pay you for your trouble.
If you think you might be able to do this for me, please send me a freepmail.
Any alternative suggestions or advice on this matter would be greatly appreciated.
hire a lawyer.
Does UPS even carry firearms any more?
This is an extremely sketchy proposition to put forth over a public forum.
I’m not sure you will find this forum to be warm to this thread.
Sounds like a sting operation.
IDK if you are being honest or not, but the BS alarm just went off.
UPS does not ship firearms across state borders, I’m not sure about in-state, but I think if you try to insure a firearm for in-state transport and declare the contents as firearm, they will refuse to take the parcel.
You might want to give a heads-up to your lawyer before heading over, but it's not something I'd worry about. Just go and find out what's up. They'll want you to prove the firearm is yours, obviously.
Are you with the BATF?
dI concur entirely. Assuming your end is entirely on the up and up, consider your own protection. What happens if someone agrees to help you. They go pick up the weapon as your representative and turn around and use it in a crime...are you going to then go to the authorities and try to convince them that your selected representative was a thief or felon? You should make the time to go pick it up yourself, or tell the authorities to dispose of the weapon for you.
How might it be a sting operation? A firearm was stolen from me. The letter I got was from the LA police. It looked pretty official. I am honest about this but now you have me worried about the cops and what they may be up to. I am honest and ancient citizen who has never been in any sort of trouble with law.
Isn’t Jeff Gordon a NASCAR driver? What does he even need a gun for?
Nope. Not my type of job. I am a simple, retired software engineer.
Word.
Fedex does if it is disassembled. I have sent pistols to S&W for repair using them.
I hear you. There are all sorts of forms that I will have fill out including a notarized one for the agent. I assume that the agent would have to be fully identified.
I’ll have to go along with JerseyHighlander this whole situation does not pass the smell test.
UPS will still ship guns, they just have to be shipped next day air, (as of a coupla years ago). See if the police will ship it to a dealer near you c.o.d. or prepaid.
Good luck.
Thank you for that information.
If it were Texas I wouldn’t be too worried. In CA I wouldn’t get involved with this no matter what.
That would certainly be worth a try. I will ask my local gun dealer if he has any advice.
I assume so since they sent the letter to me.
Don’t be surprised if the local Fedex agent doesn’t know it. I had to point out that it was S&W that sent me the box for the gun using their Fedex account.
http://www.gunfancy.com/shipping_guns.htm
I get rifles delivered all of the time, but I have a C&R license that cost me $30.
Right. So getting an agent gets you nowhere. Is there a contact number on the letter? Give it a call. You probably want to let them know you’re coming, anyway.
OPINION:
I don’t know that I would want that gun back.
I wonder what kind of history it has since it was stolen.
That said, if you received a letter from the PD regarding
stolen property — that sounds like pretty standard wording
for a form letter for recovered property.
I think the best thing to do if you have questions is to contact
the police department property clerk (the number is probably on your
letter) or the recovery unit who may have sent you the letter.
Thank you for that info.
Yes, there is a contact number, case number, instructions of sorts, etc in the letter. I or my agent would have to make an appointment for the pickup.
If the gun is involved in some sort of an unresolved crime, then 1. Jeff Gordon would've had a visit already, and 2. LAPD wouldn't be contacting him to give it back.
Since you lived without it for a decade, why the insistence that you must pick it up now? Let them destroy it. That would be the least complicated option to take. Why make it hard on yourself?
Just call the number and ask what’s up. You can’t be afraid that the cops might trace the phone call back to the address they already know.
This firearm is quite valuable.
I do plan to call on Monday.
Ok.
Call the state police and arrange for them to drive the weapon to San Jose.
Or (CHP)
Explain the situation to them and have them act as the agent.
Do you have any idea what condition its in? I coulda sat at the bottom of a lake for 8 years for all you know.
I was thinking unknown (as in not yet known) history.
Thanks 1RudeBoy for your feedback.
I do understand how the process works.
I suppose that would be worth a try.
good point!
At least in N.M., the state police would drive FFL stuff and ammo from one point to another for citizens to pick up. Clovis to Albuquerque for example.
Really no need for a thread for this.
It’s a trick. Get an ax.
That is because you sent it to the factory for repair. In California, at least, it is illegal to ship a post 1898 manufactured handgun EXCEPT for repairs (to a shop with an FFL) or to an FFL dealer. I'd hire a lawyer, or go get it yourself.
I think you should drive to L.A. and pick it up in person.
Even if L.A.P.D. would release it to somebody else, it would be illegal for that person to ship it to you. You might get away with it, by not declaring it as a firearm, but if you get caught, you’d both be in trouble.
The owner of a firearm can ship it to an FFL holder, and the licensee can repair it and ship it back to the owner’s address. But non-licensees can’t ship firearms to each other. The serial numbered portion is considered the “firearm”, so even if it was disassembled, it would be illegal to ship the stripped frame.
Some guys will tell you they have shipped disassembled firearms. What they really should say is that they just haven’t been caught.
But you're going to let a stanger go and pick it up for you? Something is whacked here. Why don't you jump in the car and take care of this valuable firearm yourself?
Just figured that Jeff Gordon’s “handlers” would have all the protection he needed...
Has your insurance company paid you for the weapon? If they have, it belongs to them. Perhaps you can hire a local bail bondsman to walk across the street and pick it up for you.
Try calling the number from the phone book rather than the letter. Perhaps that is too paranoid but consider all those official looking emails that you get from banks where you don’t even have an account. Remember, the record of the crime is public knowledge.
The simple solution is for the LAPD to ship it to San Jose PD, then you go over and pick it up. Perfectly legal and the most logical way to do it. Albuquerque picked up a gun of mine that was stolen in Kansas years ago and they shipped it to the local gestapo and I went over and picked it up.
Contact them and see if they will do that.
What condition is the gun in? It could be totally rusted and worthless. How much is it worth? If under $250, I would tell them to keep it. If over $400, I would go get it. Between 250 and 400, I would have to think about it longer.
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