Earlier this week a Cochrane man had a registered, legal gun stolen from his vehicle and while the RCMP is investigating the matter, where the gun is now and what it is being used for is unknown.
On Aug. 14, a .357 revolver handgun and 25 rounds of ammunition were taken from an unlocked vehicle located on Bow Ridge Road. The registered gun owner was charged with unsafe storage of a firearm but it was because of his “due diligence” of reporting the theft right away that he was not charged with more.
“The owner took the proper measures and used due diligence in letting the police know right away,” said Const. Jennifer Brewer.
Brewer explained that depending on RCMP officers’ discretion, there are a number of charges under the Firearms Act in the Canadian Criminal Code that an individual could be charged with when a gun is stolen.
“In this case, the man came forward right away and he was victimized here so we are making sure he is being treated as such but we are also dealing with dangerous weapons,” Brewer said.
“This is definitely a police and public safety issue. Now that gun is out in the public and we have no control now – we don’t know what it will be used for.”
Had the gun owner not come forward right away (or at all), if the gun was used in a future crime, Brewer said he could have been “charged with a lot.” She compared it to if someone was to lend a vehicle to a friend and that person was to get in an accident, the owner would be at fault.
The Cochrane RCMP strongly encourages anyone who has a dangerous weapon stolen from them to report it. Reporting stolen weapons gives the RCMP the chance to be aware of the situation and a chance to actively search for the weapon, officers explain.
“We just want to give people the same advice every time this happens, remember to lock your vehicles and keep your gun secured safely and properly,” Brewer said.
