COLUMBUS — A dangerous problem is impacting multiple communities in central Indiana: guns being stolen right out of vehicles.
Tamara Watson, a certified firearms instructor for Indiana State Police, said she had her duty gun stolen from her undercover cop car in 2013.
“I got this terrible sick feeling of 'I hope they didn’t pop the trunk,'” Watson said. “We never did recover my firearm."
Columbus Police Lt. Matt Harris said the department tracked five firearm thefts in the past couple of weeks.
“The trial hasn’t started yet but last summer we had an officer exchange gunfire with a suspect who was reported as a prowler and it was later determined that the firearm used in that crime was stolen from an unlocked vehicle from Columbus,” Harris said.
Harris said many times that these thefts occur when the car doors are unlocked.
Meanwhile, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department says 59 guns have been stolen from cars downtown this year alone.
Those numbers have officers concerned.
“These weapons end up in the hands of people who are legally allowed to have firearms oftentimes,” Harris said.
-
Roller derby is the full-contact sport for everyone
The BOOMington Blockheads is a roller derby team based in Bloomington. The team is open to everyone no matter their skill level.INDOT temporarily closing I-465 on-ramps through September for road work
INDOT crews are doing more road work on Interstate 465, which could become an annoyance for drivers on the city's west side.Tenants at Hubbard Gardens apartments dealing with raw sewage coming out of sink
Residents at Hubbard Gardens apartments are frustrated. They tell WRTV they've been living with raw sewage coming out of their sinks for over a month.IMPD hopes community day builds trust in Indianapolis
The department closed down Georgia Street between Meridian and Illinois Streets to welcome over 40 different vendors representing different businesses and government agencies on Thursday.