Not picking on you but the problem with that logic is PA sheriffs aren't really law enforcement. Yes, I know my comment isn't entirely correct but they don't perform the same services as township, city and state police in PA.
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following the line of thought, would a constable take a report for a stolen weapon and investigate it?
they are law enforcement like sheriffs.
would peace officers in a community?
they are also law enforcement.
most of this would probably get you told "talk with state police" or would be passed on to state police if you could get them to take a report.
don't all firearm related things go through PSP, sheriffs are only the agent processing the ltcf's in accordance with state law on behalf of psp.
TLDR, pa is screwy when it comes to law enforcement.
where constables, state police, municipal police, peace officers and sheriffs all stand on the chess board is an enigma and hard to understand.
The shotgun should have been reported stolen when the theft was discovered by the owner. The police that cover the location of the theft should have entered it into NCIC. If any police department came into contact with that shotgun and they run it via NCIC it would come up stolen and would indicate the department that entered it into the system.
If the owner never reported it to the proper authority, it reality the shotgun is not officially stolen.
wouldn't that would make it a civil case of property lent and not returned, while technically theft they would have to prove it is their property in court and it would be ordered returned. the argument would more than likely be "it was given to me" "it was sold to me" with the other party having no evidence IE receipt.
i'm not sure how it all goes down relating to long guns Vs a video game console, vehicle, home computer or other commonly lent item.
assuming this arrest is not related to the theft itself since OP hasn't yet responded.
although, i wonder if OP is suffering from the same barrier we are.