Should I call the Police?... what should I do?
By koalatbs
@koalatbs (2229)
United States
September 9, 2008 7:43am CST
HELP! I was outside early this morning taking my son to the bus stop. On the way back home walking our dog I found something in the grass (see attached photo) right outside our apartment building. It has me angry, scared and pissed off all at the same time and I do not know what to do. I researched it on the internet and finally discovered it is called a Cyclone Thrower and it is made by a company called Master Cutlery. It looks just like the knife/ weapon, or whatever you want to call it, in the photo I found. Currently I have it wrapped in a kitchen towel and it is sitting on our counter. Thank God I found it and not a child in our complex. I can NOT believe that someone (perhaps that lives in my building) is carrying one of these things around! We moved here about a month ago so I do not really know anyone yet, but it is a nice neighborhood. There are a few young adults (about 18 to 20 yr olds) that live in the apartment above us and I'm thinking maybe it might belong to one of them or one of their friends. I just don't know. But, getting to my question... what should I do???! What would you do if you found this thing? I definitely do NOT want to keep it in my home! My husband is at work so I'll probably just wait until he gets home. But, I don't know if I should call our apartment complex office and report it to them... call the police... or do nothing and just dispose of it. HELP me, please! I mean, this thing is definitely not a toy... it is heavy and made very well. I was terrified to even pick it up and I'm not one to be frightened too easily.
24 people like this
85 responses
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
9 Sep 08
Wow, I definitely would not want to run into the guy carrying that thing!
How big is it? I can't tell by the picture. Either way, it's a dangerous item for someone to be carting around.
I have no idea if that type of a weapon is even legal, so I would probably at least call the local PD or Sheriff's Dept (depending on where you are) and ask them about it, maybe have them come look at it. It can't hurt, and if it is illegal, they will probably insist on confiscating it anyway.
5 people like this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
9 Sep 08
Welll I certainly wouldnt do "nothing" I mean something should be done, I have to say that my first suggestion is to take it to the police station and turn it in explaining where you found it etc etc and THEN I would contact the complex office and inform them just so they are aware...
4 people like this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I guess I will do something, just don't know "what" yet. I think I'll definitely inform the complex office no matter what. I think I will do a little more research online to try to find out more about this kind of weapon. I have now moved it into my knife drawer because I'm afraid our cat might step on top of it on our counter. Even though it is wrapped in one of my kitchen hand towels, it could still slice right through.
4 people like this
@mytwo_daughters (2663)
• United States
10 Sep 08
hmmmmmmm, I would ask your hubby. Then probably call the police, they can dust for finger prints. If anything it is one less dangerous object on the street. Why I said to call the police is, maybe there is someone up to no good. You never know. Best to protect yourself.
2 people like this
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Unless they know it's been used for a crime they're not going to spend hours of work & hundreds of dollars in expence to dust it for prints. The things just a fancy pocket knife & not even illegal. Anybody could carry it & have it fall out of their pocket.
Protect herself from what? Are you going to warn her about the kitchen knives & can opener next?
1 person likes this
@mytwo_daughters (2663)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Why are you harassing people who reply? Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Just because you don't agree doesn't mean you can harass people, and insult. How do you know what the police will and won't do. Are you telling me this fancy knife can't be thrown at someone to seriously hurt them. And yes, I would warn her about kitchen knives and children, since your sarcasm obviously missed the big picture.
2 people like this
@ElicBxn (63233)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I think I would call the police. This thing may be illegal (like a switchblade) and they may be glad to have it turned in. I would call your non-emergency number if you have one - ours is 311 - and report it to the operator and see what they think.
3 people like this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I don't know if it is illegal or not. I did not find anything on the internet about that subject. I think I've decided to wait until my husband gets home tonight. I think I will let him decide what we should do, but either way... it is NOT and I repeat NOT staying in our house. I do not think I have to worry about that with my husband though. I definitely do not think he'd want it in the house either.
2 people like this
@Farside604 (870)
• Canada
12 Sep 08
I've seen those things for sale around knife stores and honestly theyre more flashy than practical. I bet it belonged to a kid wanting to show it off. I however dont see the harm in tunring into the police as it is potentially hormaing and you dont want it around youre house. Im sure if u walk into a police station they would be more than willing to dispose of it, theyre always happy to get weapons off the street.
2 people like this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
15 Sep 08
Thanks for your advice Farside604. I really appreciate it. That seems to be the consensus from the replies I have received so far... that type of knife is mainly for show. I have come to the conclusion that it really isn't that big of a deal after all, but I'm still glad that I found it before someone got hurt... like a little kid in the neighborhood.
1 person likes this
@thegreatgameguy (85)
• United States
12 Sep 08
This may not be the time to say it, but that is one awesome thrower. anyway, as for being illegal i doubt it. They sell those things in a gas station near my house, although its illegal to sell it to a minor. Um, I dont think that the police should be involved but you may want to contact your building office and warn/inform them of the possibility of tenants possibly carrying these around. It would also be a good idea to inform your neighbors and other parents near you. Also as someone before stated if you really need guidance call a non-emergency number and ask for information on what to do with it.
2 people like this
@habichuelo (3100)
• United States
9 Sep 08
call the POLICE NOWWW!!!
it could harm you or your loved ones at any time.
if you found it very close to your area the owner of that stuff is probably very close to you!!
act now,,,you wont be sorry later!
2 people like this
@koalatbs (2229)
• United States
9 Sep 08
I think I will just wait until my husband gets home. I don't want the police showing up here as I do not want to attract any attention to myself or it. As you said, if whoever is the owner of it lives around here or is nearby then I do not want them to know that I am the one who found it, let alone am the one who called the police on them.
2 people like this
@srace1980 (11)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I would definatley let the complex manager know and I would probably call the police and let them know too. I would actually ask the police to come to my home and pick it up as I would not want it around and would want to make sure that a child could not get it. Someone could have been seriously hurt by this and I think that whoever had it should not have been carrying it around so carelessly. Also it could have been used in a crime and ditched in your yard. So yes I would definatley call the police.
2 people like this
@GilbrosTMPro (323)
• Philippines
11 Sep 08
Report it to police this situation in case police is not yet arrive prepare some defensive weapons to protect yourself and your love ones.
2 people like this
@gwoman2 (710)
• United States
10 Sep 08
Hi Koalatbs,
take the darned thing to the police yourself...don't call them cause as you said it will attract attention to you and your family. Check with your hubby and whatever you both decide, do not CALL...go there and keep it in the towel...try not to touch it, maybe they can get finger prints from it...make certain that you tell them exactly how you picked it up.
Good luck
~G~
2 people like this
@4ofmyown (1119)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I would probably call the police and just let them take care of it. You never know if they maybe looking for someone who has used a weapon like that. They would probably appreciate the fact that you let them know about something of that nature and would be happy to get it off the street.
2 people like this
@monmasyuk (36)
• Malaysia
11 Sep 08
I understand your anger and disappointment for you had been thinking in the point of children safety. I suggest that you report the matter to the your apartment complex administration office or the apartment security department if your apartment complex have security service. Maybe they could come out with some investigation and an awareness memo distribution the community who lives there. I do not think the police could do anything in this case unless you saw who throw the thing out and it had injured anyone. Me myself experienced the same thing as you do. Some of my neighbour in our apartment are very good and friendly, but some are unfriendly, ignorant and does not practise good hygiene in their home area. They even throw their rubbish plastic out to the parking lot from higher level without thinking it migt hit somebody's car or pedastrian.
2 people like this
@sapphire67 (41)
• United States
11 Sep 08
I'm sure by now you have all the advise on this subject you can handle, but if I may interject here, I would have called the police and if you didn't wipe it clean they may be able to pull prints from it and possibly see if it's been used for any type of crime. Thank goodness a child didn't find it.
2 people like this
@riderinlife (31)
• United States
10 Sep 08
well that is very scary ! i understand your upset, but you need to keep as calm and as rash as you can . Yep it was the right thing to do by picking the the item up , but as well you don't know if this thing was involved in a crime ???? so i would be very careful in what you pick up around there, just because you DON'T know anyone as of yet.If your really wanting to get involved : then i wold go to any and all meetings in the complex and voice your concerns, as well you can post a flyer in your complex on there board's, and you can and should as well go to the buildings management and let them write down a complant, but in doin these things ya have to know that you are involving your family and if you call the police ???? well i would hope that they would be protecting your area from just that. sorry to hear you having these problem's , it seems to me that we are living in different times my friends ! and that's what scare's me the most . so protect your own and keep your eye's open ! now a day's you have to try and be ready for anything from natural , man made , self in flicted , to school dazaster's it seems anything and everything is fair game ~ what a shame ! peace to you all ~ rider ;-)
2 people like this
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
10 Sep 08
I do not think that I would call the police out, just in case someone noticed and then found out what it was about. I would probably take it to the nearest police station and just hand it in, and just tell them where you found it. I would not keep it in the house, not if it is a dangerous thing and I had kids about and it might be hard to just dispose of safely.
2 people like this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
10 Sep 08
I would just take it over to the station and tell them that you found it, tell them where and find out if it's illegal, to boot.
That is scary because looking them up on line, it's made for damage to someone, for sure.
2 people like this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
10 Sep 08
I just looked this up on the Internet. It says it's a martial arts item and only supposed to be for decoration. But that has 3 blades which open up. That could be very dangerous if someone wanted to throw it at you! I don't know what I would do if I were to find it, perhaps throw it away so nobody else would have it. Maybe your husband will have a solution for you.
2 people like this
@TupperGalJen (13)
•
10 Sep 08
I would, at the very least, get in touch with the complex management about the situation. In my town (upstate NY), items like that one are illegal, grouped with standard throwing knives and knife blades over a specific length.
The legality aspect aside, you brought up an excellent point - what if a child had been the one to find this thing instead of you? There is no telling who could have been hurt, had this item fallen into the wrong hands.
