SAN ANTONIO — Nearly a month ago, Kipp Shoecraft walked out of a restaurant to find his truck's passenger window ripped out and his gun missing. He said as of Tuesday, the San Antonio Police Department hasn't had any update for two weeks.
Still, Shoecraft's case is hardly unique. SAPD said on Facebook criminals have stolen more than 2,400 guns from vehicles this year alone.
Furthermore, a KENS 5 review of SA crime data shows San Antonio averaged 53 vehicle burglaries every day in December, so far, and averaged 57 vehicle burglaries in November of this year.
Last year the numbers were even higher.
Reverend Robert Mueller, a leader in nonprofit COPS/Metro Alliance, told KENS 5 drivers must find a way to secure their firearms and that nonprofits were already looking to help.
"We at COPS/Metro Alliance started researching gun violence shortly after the Uvalde shooting and we were looking for ways that we could address it," Mueller said. "In our conversations with both the sheriff and the police chief we discovered that gun thefts out of vehicles, in particular, were skyrocketing."
Mueller said the nonprofit has seen other cities distribute gun safes specifically for vehicles that are secured to the vehicle by a cable and are difficult to remove. The COPS/Metro Alliance is now working with the SA Mayor's Office and SAPD to find $200,000 in funding to purchase at least 2000 such safes under a new program.
A spokesman for Mayor Ron Nirenberg told KENS 5 the mayor supports the plan and SAPD will help coordinate the funding. The Mayor was unavailable for comment.
Mueller said the program would help responsible gun owners keep their property safe.
"Our hope is to inspire responsible gun owners to be responsible about securing their firearms so that (the thefts) can't happen as often as they've been happening," Mueller said.
Mueller said the program is still being put together and there isn't a timeline for release as of yet. At the same time, the reverend said anyone who can afford a gun safe right now should do so immediately.
"Help us put this rampant problem that we now have in San Antonio to rest. Help us to settle down the number of illegal or stolen weapons," Mueller said.
SAPD offered the following additional tips on Facebook.
- Do not leave firearms in an unattended vehicle
- Plan ahead to secure the gun if you are going into a business that does not allow firearms
- Document the serial number of your firearm now so it is available if the firearm is stolen
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