Oklahoma City Police Department say thieves are treating parked cars like self-serve gun racks, with 24 firearms reported stolen from vehicles so far this year and 20 of those taken from cars that were left unlocked. Officers describe the crimes as quick grab-and-go hits and are again pleading with gun owners to lock their doors, bring weapons inside overnight when possible, or use a mounted vehicle safe, as reported by the Oklahoma Police Department's Facebook post.
Police Post Breaks Down The Year-To-Date Totals
According to the Oklahoma City Police Department, 24 guns have been reported stolen from vehicles so far this year, and 20 of those thefts involved unlocked cars. In the post, officers called locking vehicle doors "the easiest way" to keep a firearm from ending up in a crime and recommended mounted safes or placing weapons in the trunk if they cannot be taken inside. Police also warned that leaving a weapon in a vehicle for an extended period increases the odds that someone will walk off with it.
National Data Shows Vehicles Lead Gun Theft Sources
That local warning lines up with national research. A report by Everytown Research & Policy found that the rate of gun thefts from cars has roughly tripled over the past decade and that vehicles are now the largest source of reported stolen firearms in many U.S. cities. Everytown and federal data also note that stolen guns frequently surface in other crimes, which is one reason authorities keep pushing basic precautions.
Local History Shows How Big The Problem Can Get
Oklahoma City’s early-year tally fits into a broader local pattern. News On 6 reported that 442 guns were stolen from unlocked vehicles in the city in 2024, a reminder of how quickly thieves can leave a parking lot with a weapon in hand. Staff at H&H Shooting Sports told KOCO that customers often come in for lockboxes and bolted safes after they have already experienced a theft, and that even relatively inexpensive devices can discourage opportunistic thieves.
Steps Police Want Gun Owners Taking Now
In its post, the Oklahoma City Police Department went back to basics: lock the car, bring firearms inside when you can, or secure them in a mounted safe or the trunk instead of leaving them in plain view. If a firearm is stolen, officers ask owners to report it as soon as possible and to provide the make, model, and serial number when they can, which helps investigators track it.
Police say those small moves, such as closing a door, carrying a weapon inside, or installing a simple lockbox, can cut down on the number of guns that end up on the street and reduce the chance they are later used in another crime.
