Riot gear, guns stolen from 2 Nashville police officers’ marked SUVs
“Officers throughout the police department are being reminded to properly secure their firearms,” MNPD said.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - In two separate incidences on Friday, Metro Nashville Police officers had items stolen, including guns, from their marked SUVs parked outside their respective apartments, according to MNPD.
Police said an internal investigation has been launched following the thefts along with a criminal investigation to recover the stolen guns and items and arrest those responsible.
At about 2:30 a.m., an officer’s patrol rifle, helmet and ballistic plates were stolen from his marked SUV parked outside his apartment on Massman Drive, according to police. The stolen items were contained in a carry bag. One of the windows on the vehicle was shattered.
Also in the early morning hours on Friday, police believe at about 4:30 a.m., an officer’s shotgun and riot gear were stolen from his marked MNPD SUV parked outside his apartment on Rice Road. Police said a window was once again broken to steal the items.
Metro Nashville Police said that the guns may not have been left in a secure manner in either of the SUVs.
“Officers throughout the police department are being reminded to properly secure their firearms,” police said.
WSMV4 talked with residents who live on Massman Drive. They said car break-ins happen frequently and weren’t shocked to hear about the recent thefts from a patrol car.
Brenda Wright attributes rising crime for things like this happening. Initially, she believed the Metro Police car that sits in her complex on Rice Road would stir people who commit crimes away, however that hasn’t been the case recently.
“They are supposed to lead by example if they have their vehicles and they know what all they have in it. They know what they should have done with that. It really should have been locked up,” said Wright.
So far this year, 844 guns have been stolen from vehicles in Nashville. Just last week, 20 were taken from cars. Metro Nashville Police data reveals that nearly 80% of guns stolen this year have been taken from automobiles.
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