A newly released study published in Injury Epidemiology highlights the widespread issue of firearms being stolen from motor vehicles, with 2,465 firearms reported stolen from vehicles in San Antonio alone during 2024. The findings provide detailed insight into when, where, and how these thefts occur, and underscore the risks of storing firearms unsecured or long-term in vehicles.
Researchers from the University of Texas Health Science Center and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed every reported incident of firearm theft from vehicles recorded by the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) over the course of the year. The study aimed to uncover patterns that could inform policy and improve public safety.
Firearm Theft by the Numbers
In total, 2,210 incidents involving vehicle firearm thefts were reported in 2024, translating to nearly seven firearms stolen per day. In 91.7% of these incidents, only one firearm was taken, and the vast majority—92.1%—were handguns.
Firearm thefts peaked in April, July, and October, with Saturdays being the most common day for theft. More than half of all incidents occurred over weekends, indicating a strong temporal pattern likely linked to increased public activity, travel, and unattended vehicles in commercial and recreational areas.
Most Common Locations and Vehicles Targeted
Theft locations were concentrated around:
- Hotels (24.6%)
- Shopping centers (19.8%)
- Private residences (16.0%)
- Restaurants and bars (11.9%)
- Apartment complexes (11.4%)
Many of these areas share a key risk factor: large, open parking lots with low supervision and extended vehicle dwell times.
Pickup trucks were disproportionately targeted, making up nearly 69% of all theft-related vehicles. The top models involved were:
- Ford F-Series
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Dodge Ram
- GMC Sierra
These vehicle types may be more attractive due to perceptions that firearm owners are more likely to drive them and because they often offer more storage space inside the cab.
A Short-Term Storage Solution, Not Long-Term
The data strongly suggests that leaving firearms in vehicles—especially overnight or for extended periods—is a risky practice. Firearms left in unattended vehicles are susceptible to theft, which can lead to those weapons ending up in the hands of criminals.
While secure storage can mitigate some of the risk, it’s not a foolproof solution—and it’s certainly not a long-term one in my view. Personally, I used to keep a small handgun lockbox under the seat of my vehicle, secured with a wire around the seat mounting bracket. More recently, I upgraded to a Boosted Safe (use: USACARRY15 for 15% off) that anchors to the car’s ISOFIX point, which gives me a bit more room—enough for a laptop or camera if needed. But even with that setup, I still consider it a short-term storage solution at best. If I’m not legally prohibited from carrying it with me, my firearm goes with me—not left behind in the car.
This kind of approach—securing a firearm in a locked container tethered to a fixed point—is a step in the right direction, but firearms should not be stored in vehicles as a long-term solution, especially overnight or in high-traffic areas.
Moving Forward
The authors of the study recommend:
- Public awareness campaigns about the risks of vehicle storage
- Encouraging the use of vehicle-specific lockboxes or safes
- Place-based policing and surveillance in high-theft areas
- Further research into why and how gun owners store firearms in vehicles
This study is a wake-up call for firearm owners to reassess their habits. Just because your firearm is locked in your truck doesn’t mean it’s secure—especially if left unattended for hours at a time in a public parking lot.
Practicing responsible firearm storage is essential to protecting your Second Amendment rights and keeping guns out of the wrong hands.
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