Found gun - can finder keep it?

[SneezySky]

My friend found a Sig in his backyard!

The police were around the neighborhood chasing some suspects. A gun was ditched in his yard. He has turned in the gun to the police... but can he claim for abandoned property on the gun at some point?

This is in LA county if it matters.

[afteractionreport]

Probably going to be kept as evidence

[edgerly779]

There have been posts about this. It is likely evidence. There may be fingerprints on the mag or ammo in mag. He can file to get it if not used in crime or stolen.

[tankton]

Yeah, not likely. Even if the original owner is a felon, it is still his/her gun.

[paratroop]

If somebody left a hammer on my property, I am keeping it.

[SneezySky]

Yeah, not likely. Even if the original owner is a felon, it is still his/her gun.

Would it be considered abandoned after sometime?

This is apart from evidence issue.

[Canucky]

Would it be considered abandoned after sometime?

This is apart from evidence issue.

Chances are it's stolen. I would be more concerned about the idiots who might come looking for it.

[Fjold]

Considering that the Sig has a serial number it will probably be traced to the initial purchaser.

[MA5177]

No way will he get it back, especially in LA.

[toby]

It's registered to somebody somewhere.

[TurboChrisB]

It's registered to somebody somewhere.

This.....it belongs to whoever legally owned it LAST! And it should be returned to them. Golden rule.

[_TomT_]

Put yourself in the shoes of the person who had it stolen from them.

[Subotai]

He shouldn't keep it. It might be linked to crimes and then someday, boom, he gets popped for them and it might have been reported as stolen.

[Barang]

The serial number on the gun will be traced back to the owner. But most importantly, don't have anything to do with a stolen gun or used in a criminal act.

[IVC]

It's registered to somebody somewhere.

Not necessarily. There is no national registry and even in CA many guns from before the registry are not registered.

Not to mention that we don't know whether the SN has been filed off.