RENTON, Wash. — The Renton Police Department is investigating a series of car prowls around the city that ended with thefts and four guns stolen.
“You have guns out there now with these suspects, that’s not a good scenario,” said Meeghan Black with the Renton Police Department.
From Friday night through Saturday morning, Renton police answered calls to eight locations with reports of cars being broken into and items stolen. At least 60 cars were hit.
Police said the cars prowled included the following locations:
- 700 block Logan Avenue
- 1700 block East Valley Road
- 1800 block East Valley Road
- 1200 block Lake Washington Boulevard North
- 1300 block Lake Washington Boulevard North
- 1800 block Maple Valley Highway
- 400 block South 50th Street
Police anticipate more reports as they conduct their investigation.
Black said the stolen guns are especially concerning, and the suspects are now considered armed and dangerous.
There have been 51 guns stolen from cars in Renton since January 1, 2024, according to Black.
“Most of the shootings that we respond to are primarily stolen weapons,” she said.
Nationwide, the rate of guns stolen from cars has tripled over the last decade, according to gun safety group Everytown, which analyzed FBI crime data in cities it was available.
Black said thieves may target stolen guns because they can become untraceable unless fingerprints are traced back to a suspect.
“You steal a gun and that it’s not attached to you,” she said. “If you purchase a gun legally, you are legally tied to that gun.”
Washington lawmakers are currently considering a bill that would strengthen penalties for gun owners when their unsecured guns are stolen. In some cases, these gun owners could be charged with felonies if the bill becomes law.
Police urge residents to take precautions and not leave valuables or unsecured guns in cars.
Black said car prowls are not a rare occurrence but have gone down significantly in Renton in the last year.
“We know this is a heavy burden to those victimized in these senseless acts,” said Deputy Chief Ryan Rutledge. “We want our community members to know that we will fully investigate in our attempts to identify the suspects involved.”
Police had increased patrols in parking lots hit on Saturday night. They have received video footage of some of the break-ins and have eyewitnesses.
They are urging anyone with information or surveillance video to come forward.
Residents can best protect themselves by parking in well-lit areas and taking valuables inside.
If you want to report a prowl or theft, police say you should call (253) 858-2121 or 911 in an emergency.
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