More guns stolen in Columbia this year, fewer recovered

According to Uniform Crime Reporting data the value of firearms stolen so far this year has increased from the same period in 2016, while the amount recovered has decreased.

From January to June of 2016 about $32,500 worth of firearms were stolen in Columbia, while about $7,300 worth of guns were recovered. During the same period of 2017 about $55,000 worth of guns have been stolen but only about $7,100 worth has been recovered.

Data from the Columbia Police Department includes reports until mid-August of both 2016 and 2017, and shows an even greater disparity between the two years.

According to the Columbia Police Department approximately more than $38,000 worth of guns were stolen from January to mid-August 2016. During that time period this year there has been approximately over $74,000 worth of guns were stolen in Columbia.

Detective Tom O’Sullivan of the Boone County Sheriff’s Department says the number of guns in Columbia has increased over time. “More people are carrying guns on their persons, in their vehicles, in their homes,” O’Sullivan said. “Every now and then we’ll go to a shooting where some kid has gotten a hold of a gun that was left around like the T.V. remote control. It’s incumbent on gun owners to exercise caution.”