Stolen Ruger

[Huntgrouse]

I recently had a Ruger Hawkeye stolen while in US Postal Service shipping.

Ruger Hawkeye 77MKII, SN: 710-43967, Caliber 338 Federal
It was being returned to me by the stock maker.

I had rifle restocked in a really nice piece of Turkish. It was stolen on or about 13 DEC, 2024 while in Kansas City Post Office.

If anyone from that area frequents gunshops and or pawn shops, keep an eye out and let me know if you find it.

USPS Postal Inspectors are supposedly working on it. I cannot get in contact with the Postal Inspector. they have voice mail which I left but I dont think ill get a return call.

believe it or not but I had another Hawkeye stainless .338 Federal stolen on the way to this stock maker the year before. the thief got the rifle and a $1000 blank of Turkish walnut. Luckily I was able to locate another Hawkeye Stainless .338 federal and bought it and another $1000+ blank of Turkish. This time it got to the stocker and he decided to go with USPS since UPS stole it (the thief was eventually caught by the local Police Dept. because I filed a criminal complaint with them. UPS wasnt going to do squat) Needless to say, Lightening can strike twice!

Now I want and need to find another Hawkeye .338 federal.

 

[peachhead]

Hate to hear that. I hope you somehow manage to get it back.

 

[gunman42782]

Man that really sucks.

 

[Mobuck]

I don't have much respect for Postal Inspectors. They will go to great effort to catch a postal employee on some minor misdeed but just shrug and walk away from a REAL investigation.

 

[hittman]

Only common denominator I see in these events is the same "stock maker".
Somebody keeping a criminal eye on what THEY do or someone who works there have a hand in it?

 

[Mobuck]

It sounds like the 'stockmaker' owes you a custom stocked rifle. And yes, I'm inclined to second hittman's comment.
I'm not sure what the current regulations are but I always recommended using 'REGISTERED MAIL' for those packages that screamed GUN by mere size and shape. It is(or was) signed for at every step of dispatch and transportation so fairly easy to run down the time/place it went missing.

 

[Watertender]

That would whizz me off too. I hate thieves.

 

[Yaworski]

I would think that it might worth a trip to Kansas to get the gun next time or find another stockmaker.

 

[3manfan]

Only common denominator I see in these events is the same "stock maker".
Somebody keeping a criminal eye on what THEY do or someone who works there have a hand in it?

There ARE no coincidences....

 

[arfmel]

Considering the value of the two stolen items I believe I would seriously consider delivering and picking the rifle up in person.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Need the big guys involved. Go over every head until you find someone willing to help. Big charges are coming if you do so.

 

[Huntgrouse]

Only common denominator I see in these events is the same "stock maker".
Somebody keeping a criminal eye on what THEY do or someone who works there have a hand in it?

One man shop. so your inferring that he was party to its theft is uncalled for. if you read the post, it says that the first one was stolen even before it go there.
the second was stolen after it left his shop and was tracked to Kansas City. and no mention of gun on box. but hard to hide a long box weighing about 12 lbs .

 

[Huntgrouse]

Considering the value of the two stolen items I believe I would seriously consider delivering and picking the rifle up in person.

not going to drive from upstate NY to Missouri to drop off a rifle.

 

[hittman]

That's some critical information missing from your initial post.
Seems a reasonable possibility since you sent multiple guns to the same place and they both are stolen.
Even using different carriers. Curious indeed.
Gotta bet a LEO would wonder the same thing; then again they probably had more info to start their investigation than we had here.

Regardless, good to know the contractor isn't in the "bad guy" loop. Best of luck with you in getting it back or at least maybe an insurance check.

 

[Huntgrouse]

It sounds like the 'stockmaker' owes you a custom stocked rifle. And yes, I'm inclined to second hittman's comment.
I'm not sure what the current regulations are but I always recommended using 'REGISTERED MAIL' for those packages that screamed GUN by mere size and shape. It is(or was) signed for at every step of dispatch and transportation so fairly easy to run down the time/place it went missing.

The stockmaker has no control over the rifle after it left his shop. The rifle was insured so I will get my money back. The stock maker didnt steal it as it was insinuated earlier. lets look at that logic and the insinuation that the stocker was involved. Why would he have someone steal a rifle he just finished. why would he have this happen to make other apprehensive about sending him guns to stock.

Besides which, He has stocked several other guns for me that were of much greater value ( 5 figures) and were returned without incident.

And where is anyone going to find me another Hawkeye stainless 338 Federal for the stock he "owes" me.

 

[arfmel]

"And where is anyone going to find me another Hawkeye stainless 338 Federal for the stock he "owes" me."

My point exactly.

You've had some extraordinarily bad luck. I hope your fortunes change.

 

[Mobuck]

Here's another aspect of this story: w/o a 'professional appraisal' (made prior to shipment) it may be very difficult to get repaid what you consider full value.
From an experienced standpoint, it becomes more difficult to steal packages from USPS/UPS/FedX the further 'up the line' the theft occurs. While 'dock theft' is possible, it often involves more than one employee which complicates the theft immensely. In addition, I'm guessing most of the 'terminal' dock areas have surveilence cameras. In the instances I've been involved with, the theft occurred at a point where there was a single person involved or responsible for handling packages. If I were tasked with investigating this loss, that's where I would begin.

 

[ex13F]

My mail and deliveries come through KC, it's a crapshoot now days on anything whether of value or not. Turdworld efficiency. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

 

[el caminero]

One man shop. so your inferring that he was party to its theft is uncalled for. if you read the post, it says that the first one was stolen even before it go there.
the second was stolen after it left his shop and was tracked to Kansas City. and no mention of gun on box. but hard to hide a long box weighing about 12 lbs .

I took the comment as, somebody is paying real close attention to that shop, somebody knows more than they should about the operation.

 

[el caminero]

Here's another aspect of this story: w/o a 'professional appraisal' (made prior to shipment) it may be very difficult to get repaid what you consider full value.
From an experienced standpoint, it becomes more difficult to steal packages from USPS/UPS/FedX the further 'up the line' the theft occurs. While 'dock theft' is possible, it often involves more than one employee which complicates the theft immensely. In addition, I'm guessing most of the 'terminal' dock areas have surveilence cameras. In the instances I've been involved with, the theft occurred at a point where there was a single person involved or responsible for handling packages. If I were tasked with investigating this loss, that's where I would begin.

Have worked fedex, both dockwork and security, and some people will try to get away with stuff, there are ways if somebody isnt paying attention. And heard of other docks where it is rampant.