Gun owners cherish their valuable possessions as much as car fanatics love their vehicles. You’ve poured time and money into buying and caring for your firearms. Unfortunately, firearms are highly sought by thieves, who will make every attempt to rob them. Stolen guns can be used for crimes as well, which can result in a bad position for the owners especially if not reported stolen by the owner. Hopefully, your collectable guns will never be taken, but here are the steps to follow in case they are:
1. Prepare Beforehand: You should always have the information regarding serial number, make, model, year of manufacture, unique identifying accessories, marks, or modifications, where and when you purchased or transferred it, current valuation or purchase price with you, in case a theft occurs.
2. Report the Theft Immediately: In case, your firearm gets stolen, you should always report to the right authorities. You should report the theft not only to the local police department, but also Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). This will not only allow your gun to be tracked by the police but also save you from prosecution in case any crime is committed with your gun.
3. Check with Local Gun Dealers and Pawn Shops: Most gun dealers and pawn shop owners are ethical and don’t want anything with stolen items. You can check with them for your stolen gun with the serial number and other information you gave police.
4. Check the Local Flea Market and Yard Sales: After losing a gun, you should check in the local flea markets, yard sales and garage sales as thieves might have sold your gun locally. You should also carry all the documents regarding the gun to ensure you can get it back.
5. File an Insurance Claim: Many private insurers and NRA provide insurance for gun loss. If your gun is stolen, you should immediately file an insurance claim with the insurer. You should also have a copy of insurance and gun documents to provide to the insurance company for proof.
To prevent unauthorized personnel from gaining access to your firearms, you should always keep them in a secure place. One of the best ways to do that is by using a gun safe. Gunsafes.com provides the best quality gun safes at the most competitive prices. The store offers gun safes from well-known brands such as Liberty, Browning, Kodiak, Edison, Winchester, American Security, Snapsafe, Fortress, Barska and many more.