COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) – Hundreds of guns were stolen from vehicles in Columbus in 2023 and dozens were taken from vehicles in the first month of 2024.
NBC4 has reported on strings of car break ins over the past few years. Cmdr. Dave Hughes, Commander of the Property Crimes Bureau with the Columbus Division of Police (CPD), said criminals will break into vehicles without knowing a gun is inside, with the hopes one is.
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“The word is out people are leaving guns unsecured in their vehicles,” Hughes said.
He said this has been happening most on the north and east sides of the city. That’s likely because people are leaving guns in their vehicles when they’re at malls, the airport or hotels, according to Hughes.
“It’s an easy way for them to get these weapons and further their criminal activity so it’s very dangerous for these guns to be falling into the wrong hands,” Hughes said.
Hughes urged people to leave their guns at home or use a lock box they can hide or cable to the seat. 770 guns were stolen out of vehicles in Columbus in 2023, according to CPD.