KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, Missouri Police Chief Darryl Forte said that 262 guns were stolen from cars in the past 18 months. That’s a gun stolen nearly every other day, just because someone left a gun in their car.
Last month, 13 guns were stolen from cars city-wide, and 11 of those cars were unlocked according to Property Crimes Detective Michael Helvie.
“It drives a lot of our violent crime, most of our criminals don’t legally acquire their firearms. They’re acquired in burglaries or stolen out of cars,” said Helvie.
Detective Helvie added that gun thieves often target cars with NRA or gun-related bumper stickers because they figure the owner might have left a gun in his car.
“We’ve interviewed quite a few burglars and criminals who say they look for exactly those types of things….. a bumper sticker, that says even in a joking manner, ‘Keep honking I’m reloading.’ Those things right there indicate to a criminal that there could be a gun in your car.”
Police say because of conceal carry permits, more people have guns with them, but because they can’t take them into work or church or a school, they’re often left behind unsecured in a glove box.
Detective Helvie said if you can’t keep your gun on your person, don’t leave it in your car, keep it locked in a home safe. He added once your gun’s been taken, the odds of getting it back are remote. Helvie said less than one percent of guns stolen from cars are ever recovered.
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