Nearly 90 firearms have been stolen from vehicles in Corpus Christi this year. More than 65 of those firearms were stolen from vehicles parked in front of homes, police said.

"It's a big problem," Lt. Colby Burris said during a news conference at the police department on Thursday. "It's something we want to remind people of. Take your firearms out of your vehicle."

Police said stolen guns are commonly used in crimes. Those crimes are usually violent crimes, Burris said.

In June 2018, a gun was reported stolen from a vehicle about 10 days after the theft. The next month, that gun was linked to a store robbery, a carjacking and a shooting.

Two suspects robbed a jewelry store inside the Corpus Christi Trade Center. Later that day the two suspects carjacked a man outside a convenience store in the 6000 block of Ayers Street.

"One suspect fired and struck (the victim) with a bullet," Burris said. "Two firearms were recovered. One was the firearm stolen (from the June theft)."

The Corpus Christi Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the National Shooting Sport Foundation have teamed up to combat the gun thefts, said Mickey French, ATF assistant special agent in charge of the Houston Field Division.

The National Shooting Sport Foundation gave the Corpus Christi Police Department several hundred gun locks to give to residents who want them.

"Every recovered firearm we return to the owner, we will return that firearm with a gun lock," CCPD Capt. Denny Asbury said. "Hopefully that will allow the owner to secure their weapon in a safe manner."

The remainder of the locks will be given out during department events and to those who go to the department seeking one.

The gun locks resemble bicycle locks. They can be looped into the breach or slider of the gun and can be used to secure the gun to something, Asbury said.

Asbury also suggested gun owners write down or take a photo of the serial number etched on the firearm.

"Please be a responsible gun owner," French said. "Don't broadcast that you have firearms in your vehicle by putting certain stickers that kind of advertise that you're a gun proponent."

Anyone who wants a gun lock can visit the Corpus Christi Police Department 321 John Sartain St.

By the numbers

2019

89 firearms stolen from vehicles in Corpus Christi

66 were stolen from vehicles were parked in front of homes

2018

271 firearms were stolen from vehicles in Corpus Christi

200 were stolen from vehicles parked in front of homes

2017

618 firearms were stolen from vehicles in Corpus Christi

Of those 131 were recovered

Source: Corpus Christi Police Department

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Alexandria Rodriguez covers breaking news and crime in South Texas. Consider supporting local journalism with a digital subscription to the Caller-Times.