Metro Nashville Police this week said the city has a persistent problem with thieves stealing guns from other people’s vehicles.
“A review of stolen gun reports in Nashville from Sunday, March 21, through Saturday, March 27, shows that 12 guns were stolen from cars and trucks, five from unlocked vehicles,” MNPD officials said in a statement.
“These guns are often taken from autos in parking garages and at private residences. Those involved in these thefts are often young people who later use these weapons in violent criminal acts, including homicide. So far this year, 193 guns have been stolen from vehicles.”
Thieves last week stole four guns from the city’s Central Precinct, three guns from the East Precinct, two guns out of Madison, and one gun each out of Hermitage, Midtown Hills, and the West Precinct, MNPD officials said.
“Going hand in hand with vehicle burglaries is vehicle theft. A review of stolen vehicle reports in Nashville during this same reporting period shows that 67 percent of the automobiles taken (36 of 54) were easy targets because the keys were left inside or made available to thieves. Four of the 54 vehicles stolen were left running without the driver present,” MNPD officials said.
“Just like guns taken from vehicles, these stolen autos are also routinely involved in additional criminal activities, including car jackings and robberies. The MNPD strongly encourage Nashvillians to lock their automobile doors, secure any valuables — especially guns, and REMOVE THE KEYS. These simple actions will go a long way in preventing crime and could very well save a life.”
As The Tennessee Star has reported several times, thieves and convicted felons throughout the state frequently bypass traditional and legal methods to obtain firearms — even though they are not supposed to have them.
The most recent example, as reported, occurred in the western part of the state where officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee sentenced an already convicted felon to 88 months in prison for possessing a firearm.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
if you carry and you go to a no self defense zone you might leave your firearm in the vehicle. I don’t recommend this. Either carry in the no self defense zone, or don’t go there.
If you practice the RIGHT of armed self defense, preferably carry the weapon on your person. But IF you must leave it in your vehicle, be very aware, stash it securely OUT OF VIEW and LOCK your vehicle. Check and double check!