2,465 Guns Stolen in One Year.
From Vehicles in San Antonio
Stored In Vehicles. Stolen From Vehicles.
Vehicles are the leading source of firearm thefts in the United States. That national pattern is reflected locally.
In 2024, San Antonio experienced a persistent and preventable stream of firearms stolen from vehicles. Analysis of San Antonio Police Department data shows that more than 2,400 firearms were taken from vehicles in a single year — an average of nearly seven guns per day. Firearms stolen from vehicles contribute to illegal firearm trafficking and can fuel future violence. These thefts followed clear patterns by time, location, and behavior, indicating opportunities for prevention.
That's the total number of firearms SAPD reported stolen from vehicles in San Antonio in 2024 alone.
Nearly all stolen firearms were handguns, the type most easily concealed and trafficked after theft.
Pickup trucks accounted for more than two-thirds of all firearm thefts from vehicles, far exceeding any other type.
Firearms were stolen from vehicles at a steady, predictable rate throughout the year, averaging nearly seven per day.
The data below comes from a 2024 analysis of San Antonio Police Department reports on firearm thefts from vehicles. It shows when thefts happen, what types of firearms are taken, and the common circumstances surrounding these incidents. The patterns are consistent and predictable. Firearm theft from vehicles is not driven by chance or rare events, but by routine behavior repeated across the city. Understanding these patterns is critical to preventing guns from moving out of legal ownership and into illegal circulation.
Most Firearms Stolen from Vehicles Are Handguns
- Handguns
(92%) - Long Guns (Rifles and Shotguns)
(8%) - Other / Not Specified
(<1%)
Vehicles Most Frequently Involved in Firearm Thefts
Patterns and characteristics of firearm thefts from vehicles in San Antonio, Texas
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40621-025-00630-9
Location Type Of Firearm Theft From Vehicles
Patterns and characteristics of firearm thefts from vehicles in San Antonio, Texas
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40621-025-00630-9
Firearms Taken In A Single Vehicle Break-In
Most incidents involve one firearm, but some vehicle break-ins result in multiple guns stolen.
Patterns and characteristics of firearm thefts from vehicles in San Antonio, Texas
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40621-025-00630-9
Patterns of Firearm Thefts From Vehicles by Month and Day of the Week
Patterns and characteristics of firearm thefts from vehicles in San Antonio, Texas
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40621-025-00630-9
Firearm Thefts from Vehicles Follow Clear Geographic Patterns
Patterns can be interrupted
Firearm theft from vehicles follow patterns tied to routine behavior, location, and opportunity. Firearms left unattended in cars and trucks for extended periods are more likely to be stolen. These thefts also tend to cluster in certain places and at certain times, making it possible to reduce risk by helping people recognize higher-risk situations and adjust their storage habits. Reducing firearm theft from vehicles is not about blame or enforcement alone, but about combining secure storage, awareness of risk, and community-wide prevention to interrupt a common way firearms move from legal ownership into illegal circulation.
No vehicle is fully secure. The safest place to store a firearm is at home in a locked safe, stored separately from ammunition. If you do not need your firearm for a trip, consider leaving it at home.
Think about your destination and any firearm restrictions before traveling. Planning ahead can help you avoid situations where you may be forced to leave a firearm in your vehicle.
If leaving a firearm in your vehicle is unavoidable, store it in a high-quality lockbox that is hidden from view to reduce the risk of theft.
Bumper stickers, decals, or license plates that signal firearm ownership or military service may attract attention and increase theft risk. Consider limiting visible markings that could suggest a firearm is inside the vehicle.
If a firearm is ever stolen from your vehicle, this information is critical for law enforcement to identify, track, and recover it. Having accurate details readily available can save valuable time when filing a theft report and improve the chances of recovery.
The interactive map below shows where incidents cluster across San Antonio and how they align with routine activity and travel corridors.
This project was supported by The Fund for a Safer Future and by Grant No. 15PBJA-24-GG-04002-GUNP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Tools You Can Use
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