New Virginia bill targets guns left in cars as police report rise in thefts

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - A new Virginia bill aimed at reducing stolen guns is drawing attention to a growing problem across Central Virginia — firearms taken from vehicles.

Police say many of these cases start as simple car break-ins but quickly escalate when a gun is left inside.

According to Albemarle County police, the thefts are happening more often than many people realize.

“Just through the end of February, we have seen nine cases of stolen firearms. Six of those were in February alone,” said Logan Bogert, public information officer for the department. “In nearly every one of those cases, the firearm was left unsecured, usually in a vehicle.”

The newly passed legislation targets that exact scenario.

If signed into law, it would make it a misdemeanor for a gun owner to leave a firearm visible inside a car parked on a public street. Supporters say the goal is to reduce easy opportunities for theft.

Police say many of these incidents are crimes of opportunity — someone checking for unlocked doors or valuables, then quickly taking anything inside.

“A locked vehicle is not a gun safe. You need to have some kind of lockbox,” Bogert said.

Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis says the issue is not isolated.

“We are seeing it on a regular basis, sometimes on a weekly basis,” Kochis said. “Most of the guns that we recover that are used in crimes in the city have actually been stolen from vehicles.”

Police say the problem also extends beyond cars, with similar cases involving unsecured firearms inside homes.

“I think there is a sense of safety when you are at home,” Bogert said. “But it is really just not letting your guard down.”

“If you are going to be a gun owner, be a responsible gun owner,” Kochis added.

Investigators say reporting stolen firearms quickly — and having the serial number available — can help track weapons if they are later recovered.

“More often than not, when we recover a firearm involved in a crime, it was reported stolen out of a vehicle,” Kochis said.

The bill now heads to Governor Abigail Spanberger for consideration.

In the meantime, police say gun owners should avoid leaving firearms in vehicles overnight and instead store them securely inside.

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