Would you willingly give a free gun to a criminal? Of course not. But that’s exactly what any legal gun owner who has an unsecured gun stolen from their vehicle does without intending to. No, I am not victim-blaming, I promise. The victim of any crime is just that, a victim. But there is no reason why anyone should make it easier for a scumbag criminal to get away with a crime, especially one that will make them a more effective criminal. And that is exactly what stealing a gun does for a bad guy. As gun owners, we must do better than that and do what we can to prevent stolen guns from ending up in the hands of criminals.

Stolen Guns

In a 2023 article, NPR (that bastion of fair and unbiased journalism) made the brilliant statement that legally purchased guns can change hands and then be used in crimes. For all the staggering obviousness of the statement, it is ironic that the anti-2A crowd seems to think that making it harder to own a gun legally will somehow reduce crime. But politics aside, the statement is true. 

Most guns used in crimes were stolen from their legal owners. More than 1 million guns were reported stolen from private citizens between 2017 and 2021. Nearly 112,000 were reported stolen in 2022 alone. Over half of those were from cars, and most often, those cars were parked in the victim’s driveway or on the street outside their home. To prevent stolen guns from being used in crimes, secure your firearms properly.

The reality is that many gun thefts are not even reported by their owners. Reporting requirements for stolen guns vary from state to state. Some state laws require a victim to report the theft of a gun in as short a time as 24 to 48 hours. Further, some states or localities have penalties for victims who have a gun stolen from an unsecured vehicle, which could account for why some victims do not report the theft at all. Should you report a stolen gun? Well, I would since that gun could be recovered from a crime scene and cause me some problems I’d rather not have to deal with. I keep a log listing all my guns and their serial numbers stored separately from my guns, just in case.

Thieves’ Tactics

We’ve already established that over half of all stolen guns are stolen from cars. The rest are stolen from homes, businesses, or gun shop burglaries. Some are even stolen from the police. Cars are ideal because they are easy to get into, even if the doors are locked. When I was a probation officer, I worked with a lot of juvenile offenders who were very good at auto burglary. Finding unlocked cars wasn’t all that difficult, but they were also quite capable of breaking into locked cars. Sophisticated thieves might use a slim jim (yes, they still work on many new cars) or a cheap little electronic device that bypasses the “rolling codes” security used in most modern car keyless entry locks, but the easiest way is to simply break a window.

There are several ways to quickly break a car window. Rescue hammers that include a glass breaker, a rescue knife with a glass breaker, a spring-loaded center punch, or just a piece of broken ceramic from a sparkplug thrown against the window will all work very quickly. If there is an unsecured gun in the car, the thief can have it and be gone by the time you are out of bed and looking out the window.

What You Can Do To Prevent Guns from Being Stolen

The first thing you should do is stop thinking it won’t happen to you. Believe me, it can, no matter where you live. On May 8th, 2024, thieves burglarized a Texas Game Warden’s vehicle, getting away with two rifles, a handgun, and body armor. If a marked law enforcement vehicle can be hit, anyone’s vehicle can.

Do Not Leave a Gun in Your Vehicle at Night

The first way to prevent stolen guns from ending up in the hands of criminals should be a no-brainer. There are going to be times when you have no choice but to leave your gun in the car. Going into the post office is a good example. But there is no reason I can think of for anyone to leave their gun in their car overnight while they are in bed. It only takes a few seconds to grab your gun as you are getting out of the car. Not doing so is just plain laziness. Sorry folks, just keeping it real. Do not leave a gun in your vehicle overnight.

Improve the Security Around Your Vehicle

Always lock your vehicle, even if you are only leaving it for a few minutes. A little while back, I saw a comment on a gun forum in which a person explained that his adult daughter had her gun stolen at a highway rest stop. She also had her purse, phone, and keys stolen. That’s right—she left everything in her unlocked car while she used the restroom. I’ll just leave it at that and let you draw your own conclusion.

Always park in a well-lit area. That includes putting up a light at your house if need be. If you live in an apartment, you will just have to do your best to find a secure spot, and it is even more important not to leave your gun in your car. If you are parking in a large lot, it’s always tempting to park your shiny new car far away from everyone else to avoid getting dings and scratches in the paint, but it also makes it an isolated target.

Secure Your Gun If You Must Leave It in Your Vehicle

As I mentioned earlier, there will be times when you have no choice but to leave your gun in the car. Along with the post office, where it is a federal offense to carry a gun, places like doctor’s offices can make carrying a gun impossible because you may have to get undressed for your appointment. In those situations, your first line of defense for preventing your gun from being stolen is making sure your gun is out of sight, and the doors are locked. A car safe or lock box secured to the car is ideal, but if your situation is such that you do not have a car safe, take what precautions you can. 

Locking your gun in the trunk is a good option, assuming your car has a trunk. If not, be creative when you put it out of sight. The glove box or console is the first place anyone will look, so forget them. So is under the seat. Maybe you can find a place up under the dash or a seat where it is not sitting on the floor and easy to see. When I had a soft-top Jeep, I locked my gun in the small toolbox that was bolted to the bed if I had to leave it.

Don’t Make Your Vehicle a Target

Everyone has heard of the concept of the grey man, the person who does not stand out in a crowd. That can be extended to your vehicle. First of all, get rid of the Sig or Glock sticker on the bumper or window. The same goes for the NRA sticker. It’s great to show your support for the Second Amendment, but it advertises that your vehicle is a good place to look for a gun.

Visible tactical or hunting gear can also be an indicator that there might be a gun inside. Don’t leave it in plain view in your vehicle. Prevent the gun from being stolen by putting it somewhere that is difficult to see from outside, or cover it up. A car holster or cup holder gun mount can also be a giveaway. Always do a quick risk assessment before you leave your car, and make sure you have covered all the bases to the greatest degree possible.

Stop Arming Criminals with Stolen Guns

Only criminals steal guns, so it follows that every time someone has a gun stolen, they have armed a criminal. Some robberies are practically unavoidable, but having an unsecured gun stolen out of a vehicle sitting in the victim’s driveway at night isn’t one of them. The first step in beating a criminal and preventing guns from being stolen is being smarter than they are and not making things easy for them.