'A crime of opportunity': More guns than ever were stolen from vehicles in Nashville in 2021

The number of guns stolen from vehicles in Nashville has increased steadily over the past 10 years, according to police data.

Data from the Metro Nashville Police Department shows that 1,259 guns were stolen from vehicles in 2021, as of Dec. 18. That's up 290 guns from 2020, marking the largest single-year increase in the a decade.

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Guns stolen from cars also make up roughly 70 percent of all the guns reported stolen in Nashville this year, MNPD spokesperson Kris Mumford said. Dozens of guns were also taken from unlocked vehicles this year, data showed.

In the week ending Dec. 18, a total of 49 guns were stolen from vehicles. That's an unusually high number for a week, Mumford said. The thefts were concentrated in hotel, night club and apartment complex parking lots.

The department's "Park Smart" initiative encourages people to secure valuables and lock their vehicles when they are not occupied. This is especially important during the holidays when people may be storing gifts in their vehicles while they shop, Mumford said. Sometimes, an officer will leave a flyer on the windshield of a vehicle they spot with unlocked doors, unsecured valuables and even keys inside.

"It's a crime of opportunity," Mumford said. "Guns taken from vehicles are often used in criminal activities."

Mumford cited two recent incidents in which police say stolen guns were used in crimes.

In October, a man charged in an armed robbery used a gun stolen from a vehicle the month before, police said. In November, an armed carjacking left a woman injured. Police said the gun used in the carjacking was stolen from a vehicle two months earlier.

Law enforcement agencies encourage residents to use gun cases and lock boxes to secure weapons if they choose to leave firearms in their vehicles. Lock boxes also can be used to secure other valuables such as computers, wallets, purses and key fobs.

Parking lots at apartment complexes, hotels, shopping malls or recreational areas can be easy targets for crime — but nowhere is exempt, Mumford said.

"You may feel that you're parked in front of your home and that you aren't going to become a victim, but there are groups that will go to neighborhoods and try door handles," Mumford said. "Or they'll break the window out, grab (things) and they'll be off before you can even get out the door."

How the numbers break down

Here's a look at how many guns have been stolen from vehicles in Nashville each year since 2011.

2011: 174

2012: 191

2013: 206

2014: 266

2015: 299

2016: 432

2017: 576

2018: 772

2019: 854

2020: 969

2021: 1259*

Source: Metro Nashville Police Department

*2021 data is through Dec. 18

Find reporter Rachel Wegner at rawegner@tennessean.com or on Twitter @rachelannwegner.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: More guns than ever stolen from vehicles in Nashville in 2021