Cape Girardeau police warn of vehicle, firearm theft

By Nathan Gladden ~ Southeast Missourian

Thursday, August 29, 2024

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In its recent newsletter, the City of Cape Girardeau stated there has been an increase in vehicle theft, including ones with firearms in the vehicles, according to the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

The newsletter stated there were 17 reports of stolen vehicles in 30 days from July to August.

"Several of these vehicles were left unlocked and some with keys inside. Your officers have been able to track down some of these vehicles and make some arrests," the newsletter stated.

The newsletter stated people can avoid being an "easy target" by locking their doors, not leaving spare keys inside and making sure to remove valuables from vehicles.

Interim police chief Adam Glueck said in an Aug. 15 Gun Violence Task Force meeting that while there are burglaries that lead to stolen firearms, they are mostly stolen out of cars.

"Nationwide, most guns, when they're stolen, are out of vehicles," Glueck said during the meeting.

The Associated Press reported in May the rate of guns stolen from cars had tripled in the last decade.

Almost 112,000 guns were reported stolen in 2022, almost half from cars, the AP reported.

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Yep, one of the neighborhood rental trash right-cheer on the block had an unsecured handgun five-fingered from their unlocked vehicle last 04 Nov at 0519 (still completely dark at that time then), marking the 2nd time during their dumpster occupancy that the police were called.

Then all mad at the police for not showing them the respect they felt entitled to - pfffft, yeah, sure, deserving of nuthin' but smiles and thanks a bunch for making our (LEO) job that little more difficult due to laziness and indifference.

At least remembered to pack the all-important cell phone / adult pacifier in for the night, to be able to call in the report the next morning.

/****/

I get the backwash that we just shouldn't have to do these things - lock doors, secure valuables, etc. But here we are...

Perhaps a leftover idea rapidly fading into oblivion from a past time when the teachings and general followings were that if it ain't yours, you just don't mess with it.

Suggest these backwashers should get hooked up with a surveillance camera to witness first-hand the now near-regular sketchy beatin' feets and drivings-by of the midnight discount shopper crowds in their own neighborhoods. Simply amazin' with the after-dark activities.

Used to never have motion / perimeter intrusion alerts overnight only a few years ago except for dine-and-dash deer here and there, now gets tiring scrolling through all the overnight events for review.

-- Posted by fxpwt on Thu, Aug 29, 2024, at 11:10 AM
Of course firearms are left in vehicles....you can't bring them in some businesses with the crazy signs 'that criminals don't care about"... so what to do? LEAVE THEM IN YOUR VEHICLES. We need to change this crazy rule...let us go armed where it is legal!

-- Posted by Argie Cox on Thu, Aug 29, 2024, at 1:51 PM
People have to be told to watch out for vehicle and firearm theft in the year 2024 ?

-- Posted by Scaggs· on Thu, Aug 29, 2024, at 3:21 PM

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