CORPUS CHRISTI – It only takes seconds for a thief to break into your vehicle. He or she is typically on the hunt for expensive valuables.
“One of the first places they look is under the seat, in the glove box, and in the center console,” Lt. J.C. Hooper said.
He added that the majority of the time pertaining to auto burglaries, the burglarized car was left unlocked.
Only six months into 2018, 110 guns have been reported stolen in auto burglaries in Corpus Christi, only 16 of which have been recovered by police.
“Once they put their hands on a gun and take possession of a gun out of your car, they’re now an armed criminal. Think about that…” Lt. Hooper said.
Authorities say while auto burglars are typically not classified as violent offenders, guns are often traded between criminals for cash and drugs. In turn, these dangerous weapons are ending up in the hands of felons and the mentally ill.
“These guns that are stolen in auto burglaries end up in the hands of people who couldn’t legally purchase a gun at a gun store. So they find a way to get their hand on a gun they feel they need for the commission of their crime, and they end up getting it from another criminal who was an auto burglar,” Lt. Hooper said.
Corpus Christi police officers said they will continue to stress the importance of responsible gun ownership, emphasizing that a car is never a safe place to store a weapon.
