Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 2:29PM |  15°
MENU
Advertisement
Russell Cain, firearms tracking unit detective, addresses the media Thursday, July 13, 2022, during Pittsburgh police's weekly briefing in the Therese Rocco Media Room at Pittsburgh Police headquarters in Chateau.
6
MORE

Pittsburgh police report spike in gun thefts in 2022

Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh police report spike in gun thefts in 2022

More than 200 firearms have been reported stolen in the city of Pittsburgh this year, an increase of nearly 38% from 2021, police said Thursday.

At a press conference, police officials said irresponsible gun ownership has become an increasing problem as authorities try to combat a rise in gun violence that has impacted the city and the country.

At this time last year, there were approximately 150 firearms reported stolen in the city, police said, meaning this year’s thefts mark a substantial increase.

Advertisement

“Ownership responsibility has become a big issue,” said Detective Russell Cain at police headquarters on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

At a news conference Monday, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey speaks about gun violence and urges more actions on gun control legislation at the City-County Building in Downtown.
Hallie Lauer
Pittsburgh officials file petition to appeal Commonwealth Court decision on local gun regulations

“People report a gun stolen, they don’t have paperwork for the gun, they don’t know what kind of guns they have, they don’t know their serial numbers — they pretty much don’t know anything about the firearm,” he continued. “In our opinion, that’s not responsible gun ownership.”

A large percentage of stolen firearms are taken from vehicles, police said, many of which are unlocked or unsecured. Officials suggested using a gun lock and locking a firearm in a car’s glove compartment if it must be stored in a vehicle. They also suggested using a gun safe at home.

Gun locks are available free of charge from any Pittsburgh police zone building or substation. They also will be available at upcoming community events, police said.

Advertisement

Detective Cain said the police bureau has even received reports of stolen guns that were stored by their owners in trees and bushes.

“Not everybody is a negligent firearm owner,” he said. “A lot of people are very serious about their responsibility when it comes to guns, but when you have two or three stolen out of your automobile at different times, under different incidents, you’re not really a responsible gun owner.”

Like the rash in gun violence that has been ongoing nationwide this year, the trend in stolen guns is also happening across the U.S.

The years 2019 and 2020 saw recent history’s biggest spike in gun thefts from cars, according to data from anti-gun violence group Everytown for Gun Safety. More than 13,000 guns were reported stolen from cars in the U.S. in 2020, according to the report.

Police tape hangs from a fence near the site of a recent shooting at the intersection of Wylie Avenue and Watt Street as seen Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in the Hill District.
Zachary Groz
Memorial to Allegheny County gun violence victims to be unveiled July 17

Mick Stinelli: mstinelli@post-gazette.com

First Published: July 14, 2022, 7:43 p.m.

RELATED
President Joe Biden embraces Garnell Whitfield Jr. — the son of Ruth Whitfield, who was killed in a mass shooting in Buffalo, N.Y. — at an event to celebrate the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on July 11, 2022.
Ashley Murray
Pittsburgh survivors of gun violence attend Biden White House event on bipartisan gun law
Comments Disabled For This Story
Partners
Advertisement
President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)
1
news
McCormick on board with Trump, DOGE shakeup while Fetterman blasts ‘chaos, confusion’
Mt. Lebanon's Kim Seaver (back row, right) was a member of the Post-Gazette Fabulous 5 girls basketball all-star team in 1996. Other players are (from front left) Monessen's Gina Naccarato, Penn Hills' LynnDee Howell, McKeesport's Swin Cash and (front right) Mount Pleasant's Michelle Katkowski.
2
sports
Mike White's Prep Talk: Basketball stars of yesteryear have sons and daughters in WPIAL quarterfinals
Gov. Josh Shapiro is joined in the broadcast booth by Curtis Aiken before the start of Pitt-Syracuse on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center.
3
sports
Gov. Josh Shapiro aims to make Pennsylvania 'compete' in NIL, bring 'stability' to transfer portal
The WPIAL basketball playoffs are underway.
4
sports
WPIAL boys basketball playoffs: Down go the Highlanders, all the way out of PIAA playoffs
Former detainee Marc Fogel stands with a U.S. flag around his neck as he is welcomed to the White House after he was freed from Russia in Washington, DC, on February 11, 2025. Fogel, a US teacher detained in Russia since 2021 on drugs charges, was released February 11 after an "exchange" with Moscow, the White House. Trump said he hoped Fogel's release could mark the start of fresh ties with Moscow to end the Ukraine war.
5
news
Marc Fogel returns to Pittsburgh after release from Russian custody and medical evaluation
Russell Cain, firearms tracking unit detective, addresses the media Thursday, July 13, 2022, during Pittsburgh police's weekly briefing in the Therese Rocco Media Room at Pittsburgh Police headquarters in Chateau.  (Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette)
Sgt. Tiffany Kline-Costa addresses the media July 13.  (Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette)
Pittsburgh police Deputy Chief Tom Stangrecki addresses the media July 13.  (Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette)
Major Crimes Division Cmdr. Richard Ford addresses the media July 13.  (Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette)
Deputy Chief Stangrecki addresses the media.  (Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette)
Cmdr. Ford addresses the media.  (Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette)
Morgan Timms / Post-Gazette
Advertisement
LATEST news
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story