Chattanooga Police concerned about guns stolen from cars

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Chattanooga Police Department had their weekly briefing Thursday around 11 a.m.

“Guns stolen from vehicles, I know we talk about this- we talk about it quite a bit,” said CPD Executive Chief of Police, Chief Sommers.

They focused on crimes related to gun theft, specifically being that there were 11 incidents this week alone.

“Just this past week we’ve had 11 guns stolen from cars,” said Sommers.

The department has issued ways to proficiently handle gun safety and prevent theft for Chattanooga citizens.

“Not only are we getting guns that are used illegally off the streets, but to attack in a certain way gun crime,” said Sommers.

CPD’s gun team was created a couple years ago in efforts to attack gun crimes a keep illegal firearms off the streets.

“In an attempt to reduce some of the violent crime that’s going on here,” said Sommers.

The department asks citizens to secure their firearms, whether that be in a lock box or something else secure.

“They’re stolen guns. Those guns can certainly can end up in violent, being used in violent crimes in our city and other places for that matter. We just ask our citizens, the people of Chattanooga, to please be responsible gun owners,” said Chief Sommers.

They also advise those to lock their vehicles, especially if there in a gun inside.

Overall, crimes for 2023 compared to 2022 have decreased.