The Nashville Police Department is sounding the alarm on a worrying trend: the majority of stolen guns in the city are being swiped right out of vehicles. With a call for residents to "lock their automobile doors, secure any valuables---especially guns, and remove the keys," the department reported that a staggering 286 guns have been stolen from vehicles so far this year. This figure represents 73% of the 392 guns stolen throughout Davidson County in 2025, as noted on their website. Last year, by this same date, the tally was 227. Clearly, the increase in firearm theft from vehicles is a pressing issue.
Continuing their fight against this surge in thefts, MNPD launched a special initiative in February 2024 that has led to 1,221 arrests, along with the recovery of 659 stolen vehicles and 283 guns, just stolen from the cars. Going by what we've seen, stolen guns—and vehicles—are frequently repurposed for more nefarious endeavors, like carjackings and robberies; used in cars, they have been repurposed for robberies and carjackings.
This trend, as noted by the MNPD, heightens concerns about community safety and spurs the department's ongoing proactive measures.
