LOCKPORT – A rifle, a shotgun and a pistol were stolen in separate thefts from vehicles parked in driveways on Ellicott and Checkered Tavern roads this past weekend.
A man living in the 7400 block of Ellicott Road told Niagara County sheriff’s deputies Sunday that sometime overnight someone entered his locked vehicle and took more than $3,000 worth of property, including a $1,600 Ruger model 77 .22 caliber rifle with a scope and a $1,100 Remington 1187 12 gauge shotgun with a scope. He said he had returned from hunting Saturday and left both on the back seat of his vehicle under some clothes.
The victim said he went to retrieve the guns the next day and the two guns, as well as a $375 hunting light, a pistol permit and his wallet, with $20 cash in it, were gone.
In another case a man in the 3600 block of Checkered Tavern Road told deputies Sunday he heard about the theft in his neighborhood and remembered he left his handgun in his glove compartment when he returned from the shooting range on Saturday.
A $60 La Fury .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol was taken from the unlocked vehicle, according to deputies.
The suspect said there was another unlocked vehicle in the driveway, but nothing was taken.