VIPD Acting Commissioner Raymond L. Hyndman advised the public Monday via press release, that the Firearms Unit will be conducting a review in both districts of firearms left in their care for safekeeping by registered owners. The cut-off date for a response is Dec. 7.
According to the V.I. Code, firearms left in the care of the VIPD that have remained unclaimed by the owner for 12 months or more can be considered abandoned by their owners.
“In both the district of St. Thomas–St. John and St. Croix there are a number of weapons we are holding in safekeeping that have been in storage for more than a year, in some cases the weapons have been in storage for several years. We are attempting to reach out to these owners to determine if they are still interested in storing the weapon or if that weapon is abandoned,” Hyndman said.
If there is no response from the owners by the cut-off date, the weapons will be scheduled for destruction. Hyndman said that the V.I. Code allows the commissioner to destroy firearms left in safe keeping for more than 12 months at least once a year; however, there has not been a review of the status of these weapons in several years.
If someone has a weapon in storage, or knows someone who has left a weapon stored at the VIPD in the district of St. Croix or St. Thomas/St. John, please contact the Firearms Unit on St. Thomas at 340- 715-5519 or 340-715-5563 and on St. Croix at 340-712-6058 or 340-712-6023.
