By Kaitlin Housler | Tennessee Star
A total of 1,203 guns were stolen from vehicles in Nashville last year, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department (MNPD).
Last year’s total is a 13.5 percent decrease from 2022 when 1,392 firearms were taken from vehicles, MNPD notes, adding that the most recent data is “still a shocking number.”
“The MNPD strongly encourages Nashvillians to lock their automobile doors in the New Year, secure any valuables—especially guns, and remove the keys. Motorists are also strongly cautioned not to abandon vehicles as they warm up in driveways or parking lots, and to not leave running vehicles unattended outside convenience stores and other businesses. Doing so makes things very easy for auto thieves,” MNPD said in a press release.
A total of 1,303 guns were stolen from vehicles in 2021.
MNPD uses its “Park Smart” campaign to stress auto theft prevention as gun theft continues to be a persistent problem in Music City, particularly from vehicles.
“A continuing community concern is the theft of items from the interior of motor vehicles. An iPad or cell phone sitting on the passenger’s seat of your car is eye-candy to a criminal. Even loose change is enough to invite some to break in. Remove valuables or hide them out of eyesight,” MNPD writes on its website. “Professional thieves can steal any car, but make them work for yours. Lock your vehicle and keep track of your keys. Getting into a cold car or hot car might be uncomfortable. That is nothing compared to the hassle you will go through if your car is stolen.”
MNPD also recently shared statistics of fatal vehicle crashes that occurred last year in Nashville.
In 2023, 140 people died in Nashville vehicle crashes. There were also 40 pedestrian fatalities and 19 fatal motorcycle crashes recorded last year.
MNPD said the top contributing factors of the fatal crashes included drivers’ failures to yield and maintain their lanes and speed.
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.