The Knoxville Police Department has released figures indicating a substantial drop in the number of guns stolen from vehicles in the early months of 2024. As reported by WBIR, only 23 guns have been reported stolen from cars as of March 11 this year, representing a steep 50% decrease from the same period in 2023.
The reduction follows a previous year-on-year decrease, with 2023 seeing a 20% drop in stolen firearms from vehicles compared to 2022. This trend is seen to continue, and substantially improve, in the current year. KPD highlighted the issue on social media, stating, "That is encouraging, but 23 stolen firearms is still too many." Meanwhile, Knoxville Police Department urged residents to always lock their vehicles and to securely store valuables, in an effort to further reduce the theft of firearms from cars. "Please continue to practice responsible gun ownership. When leaving your car unoccupied, REMOVE or SAFELY SECURE any valuables, especially firearms, lock your car and park in visible, well-lit areas if at all possible," the department pleaded in a post shared on their Facebook page.
In the unfortunate event that a gun does become stolen, KPD has advised gun owners should immediately report it to the authorities, along with providing crucial information such as the weapon's serial number. This can assist in potentially returning the stolen items and keeping them out of the hands of criminals.
Though the latest statistics show a promising sign towards reducing vehicle firearm theft, the Knoxville Police Department maintains that the work is not done. In 2023, a total of 141 firearms were stolen from cars, which, according to a report by WVLT, already indicated a downward trend. "Lock your car, secure valuables, secure or remove firearms," summarize the simple yet potentially life-saving precautions KPD has continued to advocate for the public's adherence.
