Gun thefts from cars becoming a problem in central Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Local leaders took to social media to share a short, but powerful message. The public service announcement featured the Franklin County Prosecutor’s office, Franklin County Sheriff’s office (FCSO) and the Columbus Division of Police (CPD). 

According to data from FCSO, during the last two years, more than 900 guns have been stolen from cars in Columbus. 

Year-round, law enforcement agencies work to get guns off the street and make the community safer, but they can’t do that work alone. That is why they’re calling on gun owners to never leave guns unsecured in their cars.

“The amount of firearms that are stolen specifically from cars every year is extremely alarming,” Columbus Police Sgt. James Fuqua said.

This year alone, over 180 guns have been stolen from cars. That’s just the number reported; law enforcement believes the real number is much higher. 

“If you do possess a firearm, to please absolutely make sure that you report that because that gun could potentially end up in the hands of someone who is more than likely to engage in criminal conduct,” Fuqua said.

According to Fuqua, 75% of guns recovered from criminal suspects, especially involving violence crimes, are stolen. 

“If someone steals a firearm, there's a high likelihood that that one gun will be used multiple times over in multiple crimes stemming from robberies, burglaries, or unfortunately, up to homicides,” Fuqua said.

Columbus police have seen multiple cases where one gun is linked to multiple crimes. Fuqua is urging people who legally own a gun to lock it up and not leave it in their car unsecured. 

“People break into cars looking for firearms and they're looking for firearms to commit crimes, specifically violent crime,” he said. “Make no mistake about it, if someone has the ability to get access to a firearm that they know that they don't own and possess, they're going to use that firearm in some type of crime.”

“I don't know what it will take to get people to understand the severity of leaving a firearm unsecured in your vehicle,” Eric Delbert, owner of L.E.P.D, a gun shop and firing range, said.

There are many lock box options that can be kept in either your home or your car. 

“Under $40, you can get a pretty secure lock box like anything else,” Delbert said. “Given enough time, you can get into these, you can cut cables and so forth. But the bad guys, they're not having to go to that extent because so many people are leaving them in obvious places: the glovebox, the center console, under the front seat, all those places.”

Fuqua is urging those with guns to not leave them in their cars, especially if they’re going somewhere where guns are prohibited.