In Las Cruces, a concerning trend has emerged with firearms being increasingly swiped from unattended vehicles, surpassing those taken during home burglaries by a significant margin. According to the Las Cruces Police Department, over three-quarters of all stolen guns since the start of 2022 were lifted from automotive burglaries. With 541 firearms reported stolen between 2022 and July 15, 2025, a striking 409 of those were from vehicles, starkly contrasting with the 126 stolen in residential break-ins.
LCPD Chief Jeremy Story shared a grim forecast, noting, "These firearms that are being stolen are not being used for lawful purposes – they’re going to be used in the commission of a crime or for some malevolent purposes," as per the Las Cruces Police Department. He expressed particular concern over the involvement of youth in these thefts, either as perpetrators or as unlawful recipients of the stolen guns. This data suggests not only a local issue but echoes a national uptick in such incidents, where the convenience of a parked car often spells opportunity for would-be thieves.
2019 saw the peak in firearm thefts when 201 guns were reported stolen in Las Cruces, of which 150 came from vehicle break-ins, according to the Las Cruces Police Department. Meanwhile, gun-related auto burglaries accounted for about 12 percent of the total 1,208 reported in that year. In comparison, 2022 saw 117 stolen guns, with 90 from vehicles, and in 2024, out of 157 stolen guns, 121 were taken from vehicles. The trend, albeit slightly tempered, continues into 2025, with 66 guns reported stolen thus far and 48 of those from vehicles.
