SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Police say two more handguns were stolen out of unlocked cars Tuesday night into Wednesday morning along Leadale Avenue just west of I-229.
Officer Sam Clemens says a .38 and .45 caliber pistol were stolen. In an oft-told cautionary plea from police, Clemens says vehicles are not gun safes
Clemens says police are frustrated in trying to convince gun owners to not leave guns in cars, especially unlocked cars. But Clemens says a handgun in a locked car isn't safe either. He says most thefts are from unlocked vehicles, but it's not difficult to break into a locked vehicle if only by smashing the window with a rock.
Clemens says gun losses from cars tend to happen in spurts but on average occur twice a month in Sioux Falls. He says they are extremely difficult to recover especially if the gunowner doesn't have the weapon's serial number.
Clemens says law abiding citizens are not the ones breaking into cars. They're criminals who now have possession of a firearm. He says the best chance for the recovery of a stolen handgun is when it's used in a subsequent crime.
Clemens advises all gun owners to write down their weapon's serial number. In case it's stolen that number will go into a law enforcement database to clearly identify it as stolen.