I first posted the below to the "scariest Range incident" post so the wording is geared toward that but the info is relevant to this discussion:
I was at a local indoor gun range. I took my wife (girlfriend at the time) and a co-worker out for some handgun instruction. While there I noticed a guy shooting a Glock 23 in the next lane. I also was shooting a .40 cal but mine was a S&W Model 4013. I struck up a conversation with him about .40 S&W's and I asked if I could see the Glock, as I was thinking about getting one. (I had previously owned one but it was stolen from my car in a smash and grab. In fact the money I got from insurance is what I used to buy the used S&W I was shooting.) Long story short, as anyone who's had a gun stolen knows, I had memorized the Serial # of my Glock 23. I glanced carefully at the serial #'s. . .
THIS IS MY GUN!!!!I thought. I was getting weak in the knees, and tried to be as nonchalant about the whole thing and handed him back 'his' gun.
He went back to shooting and I turned back down range and fired the remaining shells from my S&W because I was shaking so bad I didn't dare unload it. I turned to my g/f and friend and told them we have to go NOW! We got out of the range area, went up to the front counter and explained the situation to the shop owner. He let us look at the thief's name on the logs and we thanked him and left.
My g/f and I go to the police department after looking up this guys address and phone # in the phone book and give the police his info.
A week passed with no word or anything. Finally one day I get a call at work from the police department that they have recovered my handgun from this guy, and when could I come and pick it up. They wanted to press charges but the District Attorney said no. The guy claims he paid $110 at a bar for it.
My glock was missing for exactly one year from date of purchase when I spotted it in the pistol range. Believe it or not that gun looks almost NO different! Very slight wear on the slide, cosmetic only and still 95% new looking.
The above is true story.
Steven L.
P.S. I couldn't let my Glock go back to the insurance company after this situation so I bought it back from them.