The first thing you need to do is report the theft to the police immediately. Next, contact every pawn shop and gun store in your area and give them a description, the serial number, and if you have one, a picture of the gun. A flyer of some sort is probably the best way to accomplish this. Finally post the firearm online on in a local forum or on a stolen gun database . Now take a long hard look at the circumstances of the robbery. Did the thief seem to know exactly where to go, or was it a smash and grab? Many times in robbery situations, the thief is someone you know who is familiar with your daily routine and the location of your valuables.
Taking these steps will give you the best odds of recovery, but the likelihood of getting the gun back is still unfortunately low. Although hindsight is 20/20, you should look into getting a gun safe and/or a valuable items insurance policy that covers items that are not typically covered by renters or homeowners insurance policies.
Check with local law enforcement.
Contact your local police and ask them to run the serial number.
Go the the gunshop or person you bought it from.
Was thinking of buying a used firearm to defend my home from invasion. But how do I know if its stolen? Call your local police department and have them check it in NCIC. You may have to bring it in so they can confiscate it if it is stolen.
If you just bought it and ask the police to check it and then it turns out to be stolen, in all likelihood you'd be in no trouble at all; you're just trying to verify the gun is clean. If it does turn out to be stolen, however, the police have to confiscate the gun, so you'd be out whatever you paid for it unless you filed a civil suit against the seller.
Ask a police officer
Contact the police.
Check with local law enforcement.
You need a lawyer.
Go to the seller where you purchased the gun.
There are two or three, but, they are only good if the sn is listed.
Contact local law enforcement. Give them the gun, and ask if they will check the NCIC data base (as a private citizen, you do not have access to that system). If the gun IS stolen, it will be confiscated by the police, and you may have to testify in a stolen property trial.
Contact your local law enforcement. They can check to see if the serial number has been entered as a stolen item. IF there is a report, the officer will need to retain the gun to return it to the owner. They WILL need to have the gun in hand to do this, not over the phone.
Depending on where you are, a local gun shop may be able to run a stolen gun request for you. You can do that in Tennessee, *IF* your local gun shop is willing to do it. Otherwise, you will probably have to check with the local Police Department.
Probably not online, but any local police station can run the serial number and tell you. If it did turn up stolen, you wouldn't be in any trouble, but you would lose the gun.
I would contact the department of public service (State Troopers) or The Texas Rangers. There are also a few stolen gun posts on some of the bigger gun forums and databases
what gun are we talking about here