Car burglaries lead to guns on the streets

Deputies are looking for a man who broke into a jeep and stole several items including a gun.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office released surveillance video of their suspect that got away with a purse, medication and a firearm.

The car was unlocked, and it's the most recent gun-theft from an unlocked car in Pinellas County.

"It's apathy," Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. "It's a sense of false security. I'm not sure what it is, but its a big problem."

In Pinellas County last year, 216 firearms were reported stolen. Sixty-eight of those were stolen from cars, and 50 of those cars were unlocked.

"It is irresponsible to have a gun and to leave it in the car and leave it unlocked and then to have that gun stolen," The Sheriff said.

Two weeks ago, St. Pete Police also harped on the importance of locking car doors after a rash of burglaries by thieves looking for unlocked cars overnight.

"We had a case a few weeks ago where someone had an AR-15 rifle and a couple 9 mm handguns, and they're leaving those guns in the cars. The cars are unlocked and the guns are being taken and the people are using those guns to commit crimes," Sheriff Gualtieri said.