A total of 149 guns have been stolen from vehicles in Nashville so far this year, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD). Of those 149 stolen, 31 firearms were unlawfully taken from vehicles last week.
So far in 2023, 193 guns in total have been stolen in Davidson County, which means 77 percent have been stolen from vehicles, MNPD noted.
“Going hand in hand with vehicle burglaries is vehicle theft…Just like guns taken from vehicles, these stolen vehicles are also routinely involved in criminal activities, including carjackings and robberies. So remember: Secure your valuables, lock your vehicle, and take your keys,” MNPD said.
A review of last week’s stolen vehicle reports in Nashville by MNPD showed that 69 percent of the automobiles taken (47 of 68) were “easy targets” because the keys were left inside or made available to thieves.
In Nashville, gun theft is a persistent problem, particularly from vehicles.
There were 1,378 guns stolen from Nashville vehicles last year. In total, 1,952 guns were stolen in Davidson County in 2022, which means 77 percent were stolen from vehicles – an increase from 2021 data that showed 1,303 guns were stolen from vehicles.
MNPD continues pushing its ‘Park Smart’ campaign to stress auto theft prevention.
“Professional thieves can steal any car, but make them work for yours. Lock your vehicle and keep track of your keys. Getting into a cold car or hot car might be uncomfortable. That is nothing compared to the hassle you will go through if your car is stolen,” MNPD said.
“A continuing community concern is the theft of items from the interior of motor vehicles,” MNPD added “An iPad or cell phone sitting on the passenger’s seat of your car is eye-candy to a criminal. Even loose change is enough to invite some to break in. Remove valuables or hide them out of eyesight.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
