Everytown’s analysis of FBI crime data found that, in 2022, an average of at least one gun was stolen from a car every nine minutes. The same report found that just over half of stolen guns in its 337-city dataset were taken from cars. That makes parked vehicles one of the clearest weak points in firearm storage.
The headline number: one gun every nine minutes
Everytown for Gun Safety’s report, Gun Thefts from Cars: The Largest Source of Stolen Guns, analyzed FBI NIBRS data from 337 cities across 44 states. Its headline finding was hard to ignore: in 2022, an average of at least one gun was stolen from a car every nine minutes.
The report also found that just over half, 51%, of stolen guns in that city dataset were taken from cars. Not homes. Not gun stores. Cars.
That number gets repeated often, so it is worth being precise. This was a large city-level dataset, not a full national count of every gun theft in every jurisdiction. Still, the pattern is serious, and it lines up with other research on the same problem.
The second dataset points the same way
The Council on Criminal Justice published a separate 2025 analysis called Trends in Gun Theft. It used FBI NIBRS data from 2,098 reporting agencies between 2018 and 2022.
That report found the rate of guns reported stolen from motor vehicles increased 31% during the study period. It also found that thefts from vehicles parked in parking lots or garages increased 76%.
Another detail may be even more important: in 2018, 5% of all vehicle break-ins resulted in gun thefts. By 2022, that share had increased to 9%. In plain English, a vehicle break-in was nearly twice as likely to produce a stolen gun in 2022 as it was in 2018.
| Dataset | What it measured | What it found |
|---|---|---|
| Everytown, 2024 report | FBI NIBRS data from 337 cities across 44 states. | In 2022, 51% of stolen guns in the dataset were stolen from cars, with at least one gun stolen from a car every nine minutes on average. |
| Council on Criminal Justice, 2025 report | FBI NIBRS data from 2,098 reporting agencies from 2018 to 2022. | The rate of guns stolen from motor vehicles increased 31%, and thefts from vehicles in parking lots or garages increased 76%. |
Different research groups, different samples, same direction: parked vehicles have become a major point of failure for firearm storage.
Why cars became the soft target
Most vehicle break-ins are opportunistic. A thief usually does not need to know exactly what is inside the car. They only need a reason to think the car is worth checking.
A bag on the seat, a case shape under the floor mat, a holster clip, loose gear, or a glovebox that looks disturbed can all act as visual cues. Once a window is broken, a firearm in a console, glovebox, under-seat space, or loose lockbox can be gone quickly.
Parking lots and garages make the problem easier. They offer rows of vehicles, predictable parking windows, and enough cover for someone to move quickly from one car to the next.
What actually reduces the risk
The practical answer is not complicated, but it does require more than locking the doors. Three layers matter most: concealment, anchoring, and a real lock.
| Layer | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Concealment | Keeps the firearm or valuables from being visible through the window. | A vehicle is less likely to be picked if there is nothing obvious to steal. |
| Anchoring | Connects the safe to the vehicle instead of leaving it loose. | A loose box can be carried off and opened later. |
| Real lock | Creates an actual barrier around the firearm or valuables. | A lock buys time and makes noise, which opportunistic thieves try to avoid. |
BoostedSafe was built around those same three layers. The larger BoostedSafe Elite disguises as a booster seat, anchors to compatible rear-seat LATCH or ISOFIX points, and uses multiple access methods. For families, the BoostedSafe Mini Elite applies the same idea inside an actual certified booster seat with hidden lockable storage.
Why a loose box is not enough
A lockbox is better than leaving a firearm loose, but not all lockboxes solve the same problem. If the box is sitting loose under a seat or on the floor, the entire box can still be removed through a broken window.
That means the thief does not have to open the box at the vehicle. They can take the whole thing and deal with the lock somewhere else.
That is why anchoring matters. When storage is attached to compatible vehicle hardware, the thief has to do more than reach in and grab. It adds time, friction, and noise.
Which BoostedSafe model fits the data problem?
If the problem is stolen guns from parked cars, the most relevant BoostedSafe models are the ones that combine hidden design, locked storage, and anchor-mounted installation.
Best for drivers who want a larger hidden vehicle safe for handguns and compact valuables, with fingerprint, keypad, and key access.
View BoostedSafe EliteBest for drivers who want a simpler manual combination lock and key setup in a hidden anchor-mounted safe.
View BoostedSafe BasicBest for families who want a certified booster seat with hidden lockable storage for compact valuables and lawful personal-protection items.
View Mini EliteBoostedSafe fit varies by vehicle, trim, seating position, and anchor access. Check compatibility before ordering.
Check fitmentHow to keep your car off the list
- Never leave a firearm visible from outside the vehicle.
- Do not rely on the glovebox, console, or under-seat space as a storage plan.
- Use a dedicated locked container when a firearm must remain in the vehicle.
- Choose storage that anchors to the vehicle when compatible.
- Keep the rest of the cabin clean so bags, cables, cases, or gear do not draw attention.
- Stow items before you arrive, not in the parking lot where someone can watch you.
- Check fitment before buying an anchor-mounted safe.
- Review your state’s storage and transport laws before deciding how to store a firearm in a vehicle.
The point in one line
A stolen gun does not stay a property crime. Once it leaves the vehicle in someone else’s hands, it becomes a separate public-safety problem that may show up in someone else’s crime statistics later.
The data from Everytown and the Council on Criminal Justice points at the same underlying fact: parked cars are a major source of stolen guns, and weak vehicle storage habits are part of the problem.
The answer is not panic. It is better routine: keep the firearm out of sight, locked, and attached to the vehicle when compatible.
Helpful links
Use these pages to compare storage options, confirm compatibility, and learn how BoostedSafe approaches hidden anchor-mounted vehicle storage.
Fingerprint, keypad, key access, hidden design, and anchor-mounted vehicle storage.
Shop EliteManual combination lock, key access, and hidden anchor-mounted vehicle storage.
Shop BasicCheck compatibility before ordering any anchor-mounted safe.
Check fitmentCompare Elite, Basic, Mini, and other hidden vehicle storage options.
Shop all BoostedSafesFrequently asked questions
Are parked cars really the largest source of stolen guns?
In Everytown’s 337-city FBI NIBRS dataset, yes. The report found that in 2022, just over half of stolen guns in that dataset were stolen from cars. It is a large dataset, but not a complete national census.
How often is a gun stolen from a car?
Everytown’s 2022 analysis found an average of at least one gun stolen from a car every nine minutes in the cities it studied.
What did the Council on Criminal Justice find?
CCJ’s 2025 analysis found that the rate of guns reported stolen from motor vehicles increased 31% from 2018 to 2022. It also found that thefts from vehicles in parking lots or garages increased 76% during the study period.
Is a glovebox enough?
A glovebox is predictable and may not meet locked-container requirements in some situations. It is usually a weaker storage routine than a dedicated locked container that is hidden and attached to the vehicle.
Is BoostedSafe theft-proof?
No. No vehicle safe should be described as theft-proof. BoostedSafe is designed to be theft-deterrent by combining concealment, locking hardware, and compatible vehicle anchor attachment.
Which BoostedSafe model is best for preventing vehicle gun theft?
For a dedicated vehicle gun safe, most buyers should compare BoostedSafe Elite and BoostedSafe Basic. Choose Elite if you want fingerprint, keypad, and key access. Choose Basic if you prefer a simpler manual combination and key setup.
Does BoostedSafe fit every vehicle?
No. Fit varies by vehicle year, make, model, trim, seating position, and anchor access. Always check the BoostedSafe fitment page before ordering.
Do not let your parked car become the weak point
If a firearm must stay in the vehicle, use a better routine: keep it hidden, locked, and attached to the vehicle when compatible.