Hunting and Weapons. Thefts from apartments in the Pavia area are increasing, thieves go to steal gold and money, but they don't mind if they find weaponry because they already know where to place them: the market for stolen shotguns, in fact, in Eastern European countries is very flourishing.
The hunters of the province of Pavia know something, especially those of theOltrepo. In the province there are about 7000 hunters: it is estimated that at least 10% in the last three years have been visited by thieves. Especially those who live in the most suitable areas for hunting, namely the hilly Oltrepò.
Thieves are on the safe side: in many families there is a hunter, and these are inaccessible territories, difficult for the police to guard. “The thefts of weaponry they increase like thefts in general - says Luigi Bertola, president of the “Libera Caccia” association of Stradella, which groups 1500 members - Unfortunately the phenomenon is affecting areas that were once practically immune from theft, such as rural and mountain territories ”.
“Usually hunters - Bertola explains - have three or four guns at most: whoever has more, has inherited them. Last year thieves stole 14 rifles of various types from a woman from Montù Beccaria. Sometimes, though rarely, rifles are found after the shot. It happened in Verrua, where three of my friends were stolen hunting rifles and a gun. The guns were abandoned days later in a field, they kept the gun: obviously the guns are sold on the organized crime market. However, insurance companies pay very little for a used weapon: it ranges from 50 to a maximum of 600 euros ”.
“It is no mystery to anyone that guns go East - says the owner of an armory in the province - It is not a question of fueling prejudices towards foreigners, because it is a fact. If the perpetrators of the thefts come from Eastern Europe, they also take away the guns in addition to gold. A new hunting weapon can cost between 1500 and 30 thousand euros, depending on the manufacture. However, in Italy stolen guns are impossible to recycle: the weapon is easily identifiable by the serial number, and if the number has been canceled, there is a risk of arrest ”.
“In the east, however, the controls are milder or non-existent. - explains the armourer - The guns are rented to tourists-hunters: often without even bothering to cancel the registration number. Obviously, thieves must have contacts abroad or a distribution channel that is already ready, in order to quickly sell goods that are hot in Italy. There is no market for stolen guns here: for checks but also because second-hand prices are extremely low. Being caught hunting with a stolen gun means self-denunciation of theft or receiving stolen goods ”.
“According to Italian law - Domenico Buscone, president of the Varzi Territorial Hunting Area 5 intervenes - It is not compulsory to have an armored cabinet for weapons. But experience teaches that in the event of theft, if the armored cabinet is not there, a complaint is easily triggered for non-custody. Which means, among other things, the loss of the hunting license. In practice, whoever has an armored cabinet can replace stolen rifles; those who do not have it cannot buy others ”.
(27 October 2015)
Source: LaProvinciaPavese