It’s been a “painstaking” process, but authorities are now ready to ask individuals who may have lost a firearm in the Palisades Fire to come forward.
According to Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Detectives Alan Hamilton, since the fire broke out on Jan. 7, officers recovered approximately 500 guns.
“LAPD officers have been working through the painstaking process of recovering and rendering approximately 500 firearms safe,” he said in an LAPD news release. “We recognize that these firearms may hold significant sentimental value to their owners, whether as family heirlooms, historical pieces or personal mementos, and we are doing our best to reunite them with their owners.”
Many of the guns found during the debris removal process have sustained “severe” fire damage, making them difficult to identify; however, the department is focused on getting belongings back to people who have already gone through so much.
“Despite the condition of these recovered weapons, the department remains committed to ensuring that these items are properly processed, identified and when appropriate, returned to their rightful owners,” the LAPD media release states.
Anyone who believes they lost a firearm in the Palisades Fire should contact the LAPD Gun Recovery Unit by emailing [email protected].
All community members must be able to provide personal identifying information such as proof of address and a description of the firearm.
To report a firearm as “lost property,” make a lost property report at any LAPD police station or online at www.lapd.org.
