3-8-19 Secure Firearms Responsibly

Of the 395 stolen firearms that were reported, 264 were taken from vehicles and 31 of them were stolen with the vehicle as well.

The Chattanooga Police Department reminds our community that there are prevention measures you can take to reduce the risk of having firearms and other items stolen from your vehicle.

Lock It - Lock your vehicle every time you leave it unattended.

Hide It - Hide Your Valuables... Nothing encourages theft like a car full of clearly visible shopping bags. Lock them in your trunk especially if you are leaving firearms inside your vehicle.

Hold It - If you can’t Lock it or Hide it, then Hold it. Taking your valuable item with you will help decrease the chances it will be stolen from your car. This applies to your firearms as well.

If you cannot responsibly secure your firearm in a locking console or gun safe that is secured to your vehicle then consider taking your firearm with you (if certified and allowed to do so) or leaving it at home.

Additionally, of the 395 firearms stolen from vehicles, 142 (36%) of them had no reported serial number. This means, that even if the gun is recovered, there is no way to pair the owner with their stolen firearm.

The Chattanooga Police Department asks our community to record all serial numbers on owned firearms. This can be done by writing it down, taking a picture of it, or even saving the paperwork that came with it when purchased.

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