Police hope new video will keep guns from getting into the wrong hands

ATLANTA — Police have a message for gun owners. They believe many of the guns they have confiscated were stolen from innocent people, then used to commit crimes.

Officers told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez they hope a new video will keep guns out of the wrong hands.

The department is rolling out a new public service announcement because they're trying to persuade people to keep their weapons at home, in a secure place.

One man, who asked not to be identified, walked Jaquez through the moment he got back to his car and realized his gun was stolen.

The 29-year-old victim said he was hanging out with his friends at a local lounge last Sunday when someone smashed the back window of his car, before ransacking it and taking off with his pistol.

"I’m scared. I don't want anyone to get hurt by that gun, especially for a bad reason.

“Because you bought it to protect your family?” Jaquez asked.

“Yes, that's it: Protection," the man said.

He's just one of thousands of people who Atlanta police say have had their guns stolen from their cars.

In 2015, police say 857 guns were taken and since January of this year, 633 have been stolen. That's why the department is rolling out a new public service announcement.

"When you purchase a firearm you have to find a safe place to store it," said Sgt. Warren Pickard of the Atlanta Police Department.

Pickard said the stolen guns are being sold on the black market or worse.

"We are finding more often than not they're being used to facilitate crimes," Pickard said.

To see how serious this situation is, Jaquez went into an APD evidence room with Pickard where he showed her several weapons that have been confiscated from criminals. Some of the weapons

Now police are hoping the new video will keep guns out of the wrong hands:

"We are simply trying to minimize the guns that fall in the hands of bad guys,” Pickard said.

Cox Media Group