In its latest news release, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department reported an increasing trend in car burglaries.
The thieves are primarily targeting unlocked cars and sometimes getting away with thousands of dollars in loot.
Car burglaries are increasing all over the country, guns are one of the most stolen items
Nashville is not the only city facing this problem. The Memphis Police department reported almost 1,300 guns stolen from cars this year, a 61% increase compared to the same period last year. In a recent massive break-in in Lexington, four guns were stolen from 40 burglarized cars.
The thieves are looking for money and items they can easily resell later. They are primarily after smartphones and personal electronics, credit cards and identifications, stereos, etc. But they are also after guns. There’s always a high demand for them on the illegal market.
Stolen Guns can easily be used in a crime, so precaution is necessary
Many of the guns will be used in a crime, fueling the already grim gun crime statistics. Memphis PD advises gun owners who carry them in their cars to use car gun safes. They can also be used for keeping other valuables.
Most importantly, lock your car. Sgt. John Bourque of MNPD’s West Precinct says that they are not seeing many broken windows because the car owners are making the thieves’ job easier by often leaving the doors unlocked.
