NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — It's a crime that happens more than twice a day in Nashville, and it can have deadly consequences, according to Metro Police.
Metro Police confirm a total of 465 guns have been stolen from cars in Nashville so far in 2019.
The latest incident was in a Donelson neighborhood. Thieves were caught on home security cameras breaking into cars along Cain Harbor Drive. Police say they got away with a car, a laptop, and two guns.
Metro Nashville Police officials say there are simple things every gun owner can do to keep guns from ending up in the hands of criminals.
"The message that we are trying to convey to people is, if you are gun owner be responsible, please keep it secure," said Mumford.
Mumford says guns have been taken from both locked and unlocked vehicles. The theft locations range from residential areas to outside of businesses.
The thefts themselves may not seem like serious crimes, but Mumford says they often lead to more.
"Tragic things have happened when people have taken guns from cars."
The Metro Police Department's Juvenile Crime Task Force is constantly on the lookout for stolen vehicles. Mumford says the police department also has a very active Auto Theft Unit that looks into these cases.
The Police Department's "Park Smart" campaign strongly encourages citizens to lock their car doors, secure any valuables, and remove the keys.
