Is there a way to run serial numbers?

[Dennis]

My wife has a friend who asked me to hold onto some guns one of her kids left at her house. He said he didn't want them around his kids. I told her I would do it as long as they were not stolen. She doesn't think they are, but really has no way of knowing. I told her if I checked into it and they came up stolen, I was turning them in.


So my question is, how can a civilian check on something like this? Can I just show up at my local PD and check to see if a weapon is stolen?

[edgerly779]

No pd can run numbers without entering their id in system. You can take the serial numbers and try but do not take the firearms. They will llkely seize them. Lots of posts on this over the years.

[9Cal_OC]

No pd can run numbers without entering their id in system. You can take the serial numbers and try but do not take the firearms. They will llkely seize them. Lots of posts on this over the years.

[P5Ret]

No agency will run a gun with just the serial number, and not the gun. If it were to come up as stolen, someone would have some serious explaining to do as to where the gun he/she ran that is stolen is.

Never mind that serial numbers are often duplicated across manufacturers. You need more identifying info than just the serial, brand, caliber and type also needs to be known.

OP if I was you I'd return them ASAP. Especially since what you describe could be considered an illegal transfer. If he doesn't want them around his kids he has to figure out how to deal with his property, not hang it on someone else. Of course you could always offer to buy them cheap if they're worthwhile.

[G-forceJunkie]

No.

[benjamin101677]

You friend should just hold onto her own guns for their kid. If they are worried about them being around their kids go buy a couple hundred dollar gun safe at big 5 lock them away and no worries.

[Garv]

Pretty sure you are now in illegal possession.

Tell her to have her son get a safe for her house, place the guns inside and not share the combination with her.

[xLoLo626x]

Give them back and have him remove bolt and springs and hide them from the kids in a very good spot if he doesn't have a safe.

[TOM_ONE]

Honestly if they're older guns, they're probably not even registered, especially stolen guns. Very rarely do I run guns and they actually return as stolen. Most people don't know their serial numbers, and if the state they're from (IE Arizona) doesn't have a registry, it could be stolen but there's no way of knowing.

You may be able to call your local department and basically tell them what you told us, you're holding on to them for a buddy and just want to do the right thing. They may just run them for you, and if they pop stolen they'll take them from you and just book em. I highly doubt they would put you on the hook for anything. I know for a fact my department would not take them from you if they're not stolen, even though they're not in your name.