RENTON, Wash. — The Renton Police Department (RPD) is sounding the alarm about what it calls a "disturbing trend" of gun thefts in the city.
In a release Monday, RPD said 86% of the stolen guns were taken out of vehicles.
"It is an enormous responsibility when you choose to carry a gun and just do it in a responsible fashion,” said Chief Jon Schuldt. "It really puts not only the community but the officers at risk when someone leaves that firearm unsecured in a vehicle with the potential of it being stolen."
RPD said 49 were unsecured and taken from cars, 39 were taken during car prowls and 10 were taken in car thefts or attempted thefts.
The release goes on to say that gun safes for vehicles are available, but can be "defeated" by determined thieves.
"I think not only anecdotal, but I think we have the statistics to back it up, particularly when it comes to the amount of violent crime that's involved with firearms. We've seen a real rise in that over the last year and a half," said Schuldt.
Numbers from the King County Prosecuting Attorney's office show this year, they're on pace to file more weapons charges than in the past five years.
Last year, 307 people were charged with unlawful possession of a firearm – a number that's risen each year since 2021.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) crime data shows that Renton's property crime rate is well above the state average over the past five years. In December 2023, for example, the Renton property crime rate per 100,000 people was 338.71, while the Washington state rate was 244.02.