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Tampa Bay area law enforcement is warning the public about the concerning rise in guns stolen from unlocked vehicles.
Reports of stolen guns were up from three years ago, with more than 1,500 stolen as of December 15, 2023, per reporting from WFLA-TV. Police say these weapons are often sold to criminals who cannot purchase one legally.
According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office on December 23, 2023, reported 17 incidents of guns stolen from unlocked cars in a 30-day period.
“It’s got to stop,” Gualtieri said.
The problem extends beyond Pinellas County, with Polk County and Tampa also grappling with a surge in gun thefts.
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, for instance, reported a staggering 113 guns stolen from cars last year, with an estimated two-thirds of them likely taken from unlocked vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Police Department received reports of 191 guns stolen from unlocked cars in 2023.
Gualtieri believes that the thefts are contributing to the rise in shootings. “I’ve never seen it this bad as it is with the number of crime guns that are on the street and the number of shootings,” he said, noting that criminals are primarily getting them from cars.
Law enforcement officials believe that stolen guns often end up in the hands of criminals, including teens, who use them to commit various crimes or sell them on the street for prices ranging from $50 to $300.
While law enforcement officials are not currently advocating for legal penalties for the gun owners whose stolen weapons are used in crimes, they are stressing the importance of responsible gun ownership.
“You can’t own too many knives or too many guns, but you’ve got to be responsible,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.
Tampa Police Major Eric DeFelice warned: “Thieves are specifically targeting guns, rummaging through cars and leaving other valuables in plain view.”
Law enforcement officials continue to urge gun owners to take measures to store their weapons securely to prevent these thefts from occurring.
“We have to make it as difficult as possible for evildoers and perpetrators of these guns from your car,” DeFelice said.
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