Atlanta

More than 400 guns stolen from cars in Atlanta in the last month, police say

ATLANTA — Police say that more than a thousand guns have been stolen out of cars across Atlanta since January.

This number is up nearly 400 since the number they last reported in early July.

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APD says at least 1,209 guns have been taken out of cars in Atlanta in 2021. In early July, that number was 829, meaning the city has seen a dramatic increase in the number of gun thefts.

Police say that irresponsible gun owners are contributing to the access criminals have to weapons to commit violent crimes.

They also remind the community that “gun ownership requires responsibility, maturity, and mindfulness. Thieves break into cars to find things of value. Giving them easy access to weapons to commit more crimes is a detriment to all of us.”

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Police say gun thefts are preventable if you take your gun into your house, and lock it into a gun safe.

They add that if everyone collectively makes smart decisions, the streets of Atlanta will get safer.