tell your friend to immediately file a police report including the serial number. If the thief (or who ever he sells it to) tries to sell it to a store, a dealer or a pawn shop the police will know it in a hurry. I got a S&W model 29 back less than 24 hours after I reported it. Additionally, the thief got five years for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Only stolen gun I have ever recovered except by ransom.