The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department continues to urge the citizens of Nashville to lock their car doors and secure their guns as the number of firearms stolen from vehicles climbs to 1,163 this year.
“It’s become a disturbing trend, and it needs to stop; guns being stolen from vehicles. Criminals are continuously checking door handles, ready to steal, and it guns are left visible, they will do whatever it takes to break in. It takes just seconds for someone to grab your gun and go. Stats from this year shows a tremendous increase in guns being stolen from vehicles,” Chief of Police John Drake said in a video posted by MNPD in September.
A startling but not surprising statistic: Nashville is about to exceed 1,000 guns (we're now at 998) stolen from cars and trucks in 2022. Please secure your valuables and firearms anywhere you park! pic.twitter.com/S8YgsZa6Tg
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) September 20, 2022
Anti-gun group Everytown Research & Policy analyzed FBI crime data and found that Memphis, Tennessee has the highest rate of gun thefts from cars in the United States, and Chattanooga is close behind Memphis, having the second-highest rate of gun thefts from vehicles in the United States. Nashville was ranked 15th in the United States for firearm thefts from cars.
In September, Nashville passed 1,000 guns stolen from cars and trucks this year, and the number continues to rise. Nearly 70 percent of all firearms that were reported stolen in 2022 were taken from vehicles. According to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, firearm and vehicle theft go “hand in hand.”
Firearm robberies are an ongoing issue in Nashville and have increased over the past 10 years. This year, Nashville is on track to have a record-breaking year for firearms stolen from vehicles, with 1,305 guns stolen last year and 1,163 stolen so far this year.
“These weapons are being used in more serious, violent crimes throughout this city. This is unacceptable, Nashville. We need to do better,” said Chief Drake.
Citizens of Nashville are strongly encouraged to lock their doors, secure their valuables, and remove and secure their car keys before exiting their vehicles.
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Kaitlyn Osteen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Send Kaitlyn news tips to [email protected].
Photo “Gun” by cottonbro.
