A good reminder about hunting and gun theft

[Badenoch]

A good reminder from the OPP.

https://www.theobserver.ca/news/loca...e-to-gun-theft

Hunters vulnerable to gun theft from vehicles
Author of the article: Monte Sonnenberg
Publishing date: Nov 25, 2021

The Ontario Provincial Police have expressed concern about smash-and-grab thieves making off with firearms from unattended vehicles during hunting season.

The OPP have recently responded to multiple calls where firearms were left in a vehicle overnight and discovered stolen in the morning, Const. Conrad Vitalis of the Brant OPP said this week in a news release.

While your firearms may be out of sight, other items in the vehicle could be appealing enough for a suspect to force entry where they will discover firearms. Hunting-related items can signal the likelihood of firearms in the vehicle.

Thursday, Acting Sgt. Ed Sanchuk of the Norfolk OPP said he knows of no recent instances in Norfolk County where firearms were stolen from a hunter's unattended vehicle.

However, we have had an incident that I recall where a vehicle was entered and a secured shotgun with a trigger lock was stolen, Sanchuk said in an email.

With that said, the OPP always encourage vehicle owners to lock their vehicles and remove valuables.

The OPP offer the following tips to minimize the risk of vehicular break-and-enter:

• Always roll up your windows and lock your doors when you are away from your vehicle even if only for a few minutes.
• Park your vehicle inside a secure garage if you have one.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a security alarm system, ensure you activate it when you are away from it.

[Gilroy]

I know we should not be victims of theft by criminals but some of us do advertise we are hunters and that guns may well be in the vehicle or home. Its great to have OFAH decals in your back window of your pick up truck or any other number of gun rights logo's, but is it smart.

[FISH-ON]

I agree....not to mention the anti-hunters/others damaging your vehicle while out hunting

[rick_iles]

In our neck of the woods, you never leave a vehicle unlocked. Even when running into a corner store for a minute. Thieves have been seen running over to recently parked cars at a store, and check to see if it’s locked. My truck has been broken into twice this fall. My video security has nice pics of the idiots….police just need to come across them.

[trimmer21]

I know we should not be victims of theft by criminals but some of us do advertise we are hunters and that guns may well be in the vehicle or home. Its great to have OFAH decals in your back window of your pick up truck or any other number of gun rights logo's, but is it smart.

I agree that it's NOT smart. Every time I leave to go hunting,there's no outward signs that that's where I'm going. There's no firearm cases visible in the vehicle. There's so many people around who are on drugs and flat broke that they'd steal the reins off a nightmare. Having said that, I really question the wisdom of storing a firearm in a vehicle for any length of time when not immediately in use,but,especially,overnight.

[Badenoch]

I agree that it's NOT smart. Every time I leave to go hunting,there's no outward signs that that's where I'm going. There's no firearm cases visible in the vehicle. There's so many people around who are on drugs and flat broke that they'd steal the reins off a nightmare. Having said that, I really question the wisdom of storing a firearm in a vehicle for any length of time when not immediately in use,but,especially,overnight.

The pro-gun, pro-hunting decals can attract more than attention from bad guys. They have the potential of needlessly complicating a traffic stop should you be pulled over for speeding or a RIDE program.

Leaving a firearm in a vehicle overnight is also not smart and why when I'm hunting out of town the guns come into the hotel/motel room with me and are properly secured in the room.

[Gilroy]

In our neck of the woods, you never leave a vehicle unlocked. Even when running into a corner store for a minute. Thieves have been seen running over to recently parked cars at a store, and check to see if it’s locked. My truck has been broken into twice this fall. My video security has nice pics of the idiots….police just need to come across them.

Yeh when I was away hunting the wife's car was entered in the driveway, she had left it unlocked. the suspect just took loose change and no damage. I know up in Bancroft they are getting a lot of theft from auto, usual suspects homeless/drug users and generally grabbing what they can. Firearms are stolen pretty regularly up there from residential break enter and thefts.

[genec]

Not only is not a smart idea to leave a firearm in a vehicle overnight, it is also ILLEGAL!
Over the past few years several hunters in northern hunt camps were charged for doing that while in camp.
The official interpretation is: a vehicle is a means of transportation, NOT a storage device for overnight storage!

[MikePal]

Over the past few years several hunters in northern hunt camps were charged for doing that while in camp.

With a good lawyer...arguably in court , it can be justified for us as secure/safe storage (in a hunt camp).

Did they take their case to court ??

[SongDog]

Another reason why I have zero hunting or gun stickers on my truck.

Had a buddy park on a sideroad to go into a county forest few years ago. Comes out to find his truck keyed on every door and driver window smashed out. Bow case in the ditch. He still dreams about catching them in the act.

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