Sneaky Pete

[susieqz]

is there no such thing as abandoned property?

 

[Warren Sear]

^^^That gun was not "abandoned" by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[susieqz]

i was talking about a gun in the gutter.

 

[lrrifleman]

Regardless of where a gun might be found, I would be very leery about it's history! I would notify the police immediately, because I would not want to be deemed guilty by association of anything in it's past. Remember the old adage, "possession is 9/10ths of the law".

 

[686-380]

The woman is a low-down thief but...

1. Is there a serial #/sales receipt for the Ruger .380?
2. Does the surveillance video clearly show the woman who allegedly took the Sneaky Pete and Ruger well enough to identify her beyond a shadow of a doubt? Your initial description makes it sound as if the video clearly show her taking the item from the cart. Is it clear enough / enough evidence to file charges / arrest?

The variables from here forward are numerous depending on the answer to the above questions.
1. Woman who is on tape is found and she admits she took the gun and turns it over.
2. Woman is never found.
3. Woman is found and identifies herself as woman on tape but does not have the Sneaky Pete or firearm. "I lost it."
4. You're pretty sure you find the woman but not 100% sure and she does not admit to being at the grocery store parking lot.
4. Assuming no serial # / sales receipt, the woman is found, house searched, a Ruger .380 is recovered but she says she bought it from a dude off Craig's List. How do you prove it's the firearm taken from the scene?

My opinion is this is theft but you have to be able to prove a few things before you can charge / arrest the woman in the video surveillance.

My perception is even if the woman is identified and the property is recovered, she likely won't face charges.

I haven't read this entire thread, so I don't know if the OP has provided the rest of the story, yet.

Prosecution and punishment cost money. While the woman (not lady) is a dirt bag, it probably isn't worth filing charges.

 

[Stevens]

Looks like I need to stop picking up pennies when I see them in the parking lot.
Steve W

 

[paplinker]

Just out of curiosity what if the owner of the gun had a history of being careless in the past or was in a county that was very antigun. Could he face any charges?

Glad nothing became of it but i wonder about the outcome in a few other states that are not so gun friendly.

 

[NYlakesider]

Just out of curiosity what if the owner of the gun had a history of being careless in the past or was in a county that was very antigun. Could he face any charges?

Glad nothing became of it but i wonder about the outcome in a few other states that are not so gun friendly.

In my state, the peoples republic of NY he might not get charged but most certainly would lose his permit, unless extremely well connected! You need the permit in this state just to own a pistol. He would have only a few days to legally dispose of his handguns or they would of come a knocking at his door.

 

[TAC]

Even if he didn't forget it, it was still a very careless act! For the short time in the store, he should have just put up with it. Or at least, put it in his pocket.

 

[Horn]

No More "SP" On Sneaky Pete's

I went into the restroom at the Sheriff's Office, and observed a pistol hanging on the hook in the stall. I knew who had used it last, so I found him and told him he might need to go back and check the hook. Then he ran back and got it. Thanked me profusely, as we could get into a lot of trouble for that, sometimes the public could use that restroom if in the office making a report, being interviewed, etc. Anyone can make a mistake, but mistakes involving firearms are serious. I know that, my friend knows that, and the man in this story does as well. Thankfully my story ended well. I do hope this guy's does as well. I do not like Sneaky Pete holsters because of the SP on the outside. Any crook, gun enthusiast, or officer knows what it is. I carry in a Bianchi fanny pack with secret holster. They haven't been made for a number of years, but other companies make similar items, though not nearly as well made. Any peace officer knows what it is. I am a proponent of concealed carry. I carry a lot of extra gear in mine, extra loaded mags, badge, cuffs, and small flashlight. I would like to hear the outcome of this story, was the woman who took the pistol caught? If so what was she charged with?

I bought a Sneaky Pete earlier this year and it has nothing on it
at all. Likely had complaints and so no longer brand them.
However, it seems more bulky than a mobil phone carrier and actually never have used it. Maybe I will someday, but..... have to
stick with quality concealment holsters.
The Sneaky Pete isn't a totally bad idea or design and is well made. I bought less expensive model so looks like black nylon.
I doubt most civilians would recognize it as being for a firearm.
Just seems bulky to me.
Stay Safe
Poli Viejo

 

[okiegtrider]

Great story Faulkner. Fun read!


FWIW, I think if I had a sneaky Pete, I might drop it in a shopping cart too.

 

[tlawler]

i was talking about a gun in the gutter.

I would be very leery of a gun I found "in the gutter" and consider said firearm to probably have been disposed of in haste by some dirtbag after the commission of a felony.

 

[kthom]

I would be very leery of a gun I found "in the gutter" and consider said firearm to probably have been disposed of in haste by some dirtbag after the commission of a felony.

ME TOO! What would you really feel comfortable doing with it, ever? Any circumstance where it might result in a bullet comparison with others on file could reveal what the gun was used for previously and guess who is found in possession of it! Any situation where the serial number is run against records may also reveal the past history of that gun and it very possibly may not be favorable. That's trouble you don't want!!! Best thing to do is call 911 and stand by until the authorities arrive and allow them to take possession of the firearm. You might mention to them that if no identification of the previous owner is found and no illegal use of the firearm is discovered after an appropriate time, then you'd like to be able to take possession of the firearm with documentation from them to tell when and where and how you found it. Then if something ever does come to light, you'd at least have a start on proving that you were not responsible for more than anything other than finding a lost or thrown away firearm in a public place AFTER the fact.

It ain't no how, no way worth the price of a new gun just like it to grab it and hang on to it!!

 

[Faulkner]

Update: The case involving the shoplifting part of the story came before the judge recently. The Loss Prevention manager of the grocery chain apparently decided they had enough evidence to take it to the prosecutor for charges. I just happened to be in court for a different case that day, otherwise I probably would not have known about it since I was not summoned to testify.

I hung around after my case was over to watch the proceedings. "Mrs. Doe's" attorney negotiated a deal for a guilty plea to minimize any jail time. She was sentenced to pay court costs and restitution (seems like I heard them say $500.00). She apparently had been arrested on a shoplifting warrant and spent a couple of nights in the county jail because the judge sentenced her to time served but then tacked on 120 hours of community service.

No mention of the Sneaky Pete incident was made.

 

[Old TexMex]

Sounds like that ol' gals motto is "Anything that isn't nailed down is mine...and anything I can pry loose isn't nailed down."

 

[mnshutterbug]

All is well that ends well. Thanks for an interesting story with a happy ending. I think I'm going to snap a photo of my gun's serial # just to be on the safe side.