The Plano Police Department reports seeing an increase in guns being stolen from vehicles, and the vast majority the vehicles were left unlocked.
Firearms have been taken from unlocked vehicles parked in driveways, at restaurants, and outside of convenience stores, police said in a Facebook post.
It only takes a few moments for thieves to nab the firearms, police said.
The crime has been on the rise since 2021.
According to police, 83 guns were stolen from 78 vehicles in 2021 and 74 (95% ) of those vehicles were left unlocked.
In 2022, 121 guns were stolen from 105 vehicles and 80 (76%) of those vehicles were left unlocked.
Reducing this crime can help reduce the number of illegal guns the streets, as well as the number of violent crimes and shootings that occur, police said.
The department is asking the public to keep doors locked, remove guns from vehicles, and secure them at home.
