The Nashville Police Department is patting itself on the back after a crackdown on car thefts and related crimes have led to a trove of recoveries. Since February 1, a special initiative by the MNPD has seen the arrests of 459 individuals and the retrieval of 263 stolen vehicles and 107 firearms, according to a statement from the department. The sting operation's roaring success also turns the spotlight on the alarming number of guns being lifted right out of citizens' cars.
Officials are urging the public to tighten their security habits, emphasizing the need for Nashvillians to lock their cars, stash valuables out of sight, and most importantly, not leave keys in the car. These seemingly small oversights are turning pricey automobiles into thief magnets. Cops worry not just about the loss of vehicles, but the fact that these motors can become the getaway rides for future crimes. "Too many automobiles remain easy targets because keys are left inside or made available to thieves," reports the Nashville Police Department, revealing the inadvertent complicity car owners sometimes have in the wave of theft and violence.
The problem is exacerbated by gun owners who fail to secure their weapons, turning their vehicles into unintended arsenals for the taking. In a disturbing revelation of just how often this happens, the MNPD found that out of the total 431 guns stolen in Davidson County this year, a staggering 70% came from autos. That's a drop, however, from last year when 477 guns were snatched from cars by this time, indicating a downward but still troubling trend.
On the front line of this initiative are the officers of MNPD, whose concerted efforts have not only reclaimed stolen property but potentially prevented future crimes. With a sizeable collection of guns and automobiles often used for carjackings and robberies brought back into lawful hands, the department hopes to see a dip in criminal statistics. But for lasting change, it appears that a gear shift in public awareness and personal responsibility is just as crucial.
