San Antonio is facing a sharp rise in gun thefts from vehicles, with more than 2,400 incidents reported this year, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) announced. The spate of thefts has authorities and community leaders urging gun owners to take stronger precautions to safeguard their weapons. SAPD took to social media to highlight the issue, saying, "Criminals can break into your vehicle and steal your property within seconds," according to KSAT.
Amid these troubling statistics, reported by KSAT, SAPD is trying to actively remind citizens not to leave firearms in unattended cars and to always securely document their serial numbers. The risks are greater when you consider nationwide figures from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which indicate that from 2017-2021 there were 1,074,022 firearms reported stolen in the U.S., with a staggering majority of nearly 96% being snatched from private citizens.
In response to the rising threat, local non-profit organization COPS/Metro Alliance has stepped into action, looking to stymie the problem through proactive measures. The group, drawing insights from other cities, is advocating for the distribution of vehicle gun safes - secure and challenging to remove due to an attaching cable. "We at COPS/Metro Alliance started researching gun violence shortly after the Uvalde shooting and we were looking for ways that we could address it," Reverend Robert Mueller relayed in a statement obtained by KENS 5.
With the support of Mayor Ron Nirenberg, COPS/Metro Alliance is seeking $200,000 in funding to purchase at least 2,000 such safes. However, for those who can presently afford to securely invest in their gun safety, Mueller emphasized the immediate need, saying, "Help us put this rampant problem that we now have in San Antonio to rest. Help us to settle down the number of illegal or stolen weapons," in a statement obtained by KEN 5. While the program's full rollout is still forthcoming, SAPD provided additional tips including urging firearm owners not to leave guns in an unattended vehicle and to have the serial number documented for theft reporting purposes.
