It's open season for thieves in Nashville where guns are being plucked from unlocked vehicles at an alarming rate. In a stark warning, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department is urging locals to keep their cars locked and firearms secured as the city grapples with a spate of auto burglaries and weapon theft. A whopping 70% of all guns stolen in the county this year have come from motor vehicles, according to a statement from the MNPD.
The issue has taken center stage since the police department's February 1st initiative against car crimes, leading to 284 arrests, along with the recovery of 165 stolen vehicles and 77 guns. Despite these efforts, Nashville is witnessing a persistent wave of gun thefts from automobiles, with 214 out of 307 firearms stolen this year being snatched from vehicles. The MNPD reported that last week alone, 18 guns were stolen from vehicles.
While the figures paint a grim picture, there's a silver lining with the MNPD noting a 36% decrease in auto weapon theft compared to this time last year, when 337 guns had been illegally requisitioned from vehicles, as per the MNPD. The department is doubling down on its calls for residents to exercise greater caution with their vehicles and valuables, emphasizing the risks tied to stolen firearms, which frequently find their way into criminal activities, including carjackings and subsequent robberies.
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