City police recover man’s stolen rifle
Washington police recovered a rifle last week before the Hopewell Township man who owns the weapon even realized it was missing.
City police Detective Dan Rush was serving a search warrant at a home in the 800 block of Ewing Street on March 13 after receiving a tip that a stolen Bushmaster AR-15 might be inside the residence. The rifle was reported stolen in January from a home in the city.
Police did not find that gun but located another rifle in a locked gun cabinet, along with six 30-round magazines and a nylon rifle case.
The resident told police that he did not own the gun.
After determining the rifle had not been reported stolen, Rush ran the serial number through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives e-trace system. He learned the following day that the rifle had been purchased at a gun shop by Jack Walker in October 2012.
On Wednesday, Rush contacted Walker, who was unaware the gun was stolen. He subsequently contacted state police and reported that his home was burglarized.
Police are continuing their investigation.