Police: Thieves Grab Loaded Handguns from Unlocked Cars

Every summer, police departments typically send out alerts about thefts from unlocked vehicles. Brooklyn Park police sent out one of those alerts this week. Only this time around, the stolen items were loaded handguns.

Brooklyn Park police say they’ve received six reports this year. The reports are from people who had their unsecured handguns stolen from unlocked vehicles. Two of those reports came this past weekend.

“Our main concern is that they’re going to be used to commit crimes,” said Terry Dehmer, Brooklyn Park’s crime prevention specialist. “One of the previous ones have been recovered. The rest are unaccounted for. We don’t like to see guns out on the street in the hands of who knows who.”

“Dangerous and Disturbing” Mistake

It’s a mistake that Brooklyn Park police call “dangerous and disturbing” to the community.

Minnesota law states that any handguns transported in a vehicle have to be unloaded and properly secured.

“[The thieves] probably will not pawn them because they have serial numbers, and would be checked and found to be stolen, so they’re probably just going to be sold to someone on the street,” Dehmer said.

Brooklyn Park police say if stolen guns are used to commit a crime, investigators could trace the guns back to the original owners. The owners would then be subject to civil lawsuits.

Brooklyn Park