FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Stolen Pistol Recovered After 18 Years
Sheriff Mitch Ralston Reports:
After some 18 years, a pistol stolen in a residential burglary near Sonoraville was recovered in Athens, Georgia. In November, 1994, Ray Foxvog’s home in the Sonoraville community was burglarized. Although an arrest was made and a conviction secured, some of the stolen property was not recovered. Last week, Sheriff’s detectives were contacted by authorities in Athens, Georgia who said that a pistol which had been stolen from Mr. Foxvog had been found in a local pawn shop. The pistol, which had been listed as stolen in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computerized database since 1994, was sent to the Gordon County Sheriff’s Office. Without the pistol’s serial number, it could not have been entered into the database.
On Friday, August 9th, Sheriff Mitch Ralston returned the weapon to it’s rightful owner, who was very pleased to have his property returned, in that it was an heirloom from his father.
Sheriff Ralston said that he was pleased to see stolen property returned to the rightful owner, especially after the passage of so many years, and emphasized the importance of recording serial numbers of things of value in case of theft.