The Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD) is once again seeing an increase of stolen weapons this year.
“[To] date, 823 guns have been reported stolen this year compared to 578 at this time last year,” MNPD spokeswoman Kristin Mumford told The Tennessee Star. “I will add that through PRISM efforts (Precision Recovery Initiative Securing Munitions/Motor Vehicles), recovered firearms are up 27 percent or 217 more guns recovered than last year at this same time. Regarding PRISM, this is an effort to combat violent crime by working to recover guns and stolen vehicles which are often used in the commission of these crimes.”
MNPD is warning residents not to leave their weapons in vehicles, where those weapons are particularly susceptible to being stolen.
“So far this year, 625 guns have been stolen from vehicles in Nashville. More than 70 percent of all guns reported stolen in 2022 (873) were taken from vehicles,” the department said in a news release. “Last week, 21 guns were stolen from cars and trucks.”
“Going hand-in-hand with vehicle burglaries is vehicle theft,” the release said. “A review of last week’s stolen vehicle reports in Nashville shows that 64 percent of the automobiles taken (28 of 44) were easy targets because the keys were left inside or made available to thieves.”
Nashville has been battling the issue for some time.
In December, nearly 50 guns were stolen from vehicles in the city in one week alone, as reported by The Star.
MNPD issued a warning about leaving weapons in cars at that time, too.
“More than 70 percent of all guns reported stolen in 2021 (1,789) were taken from vehicles. Last week, 49 guns were stolen from cars and trucks. Many of the guns taken last week came from vehicles parked outside nightclubs, apartment buildings and hotels,” that press release said.
Last May, MNPD issued another warning about leaving weapons in vehicles after 10 guns were stolen from cars and trucks in a week.
”A review of stolen gun reports in Nashville from Sunday, May 16, through Saturday, May 22, shows that 10 guns were stolen from cars and trucks, eight from unlocked vehicles. These guns are routinely taken from autos in parking garages and those parked outside nightclubs, private residences, hotels, and short-term rental properties,” said a press release from the time.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected].
