What does this research mean for the field?

Approximately 2.7% of US firearm owners have experienced a firearm theft from a vehicle, an event that typically involves handguns stored in accessible locations without dedicated locking devices and disproportionately affects younger, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic individuals. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To examine the prevalence, situational characteristics, risk factors, and subsequent behavioral changes associated with firearm thefts from vehicles in the United States.

September 8, 2026Prevention ScienceOpen Access

Firearm Thefts from Vehicles in the United States: Results from a National Survey of Firearm Owners

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Authors

ATAlexander TestaThe University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston JTJennifer ThompsonKaiser Permanente DJDylan B. JacksonJohns Hopkins University

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Implication

National survey uncovers a 2.7% vehicle firearm theft rate in firearm owners, highlighting the critical need for dedicated locking devices.

Key Points

To examine the prevalence, situational characteristics, risk factors, and subsequent behavioral changes associated with firearm thefts from vehicles in the United States.
Conducted a national cross-sectional survey of firearm owners via YouGov in February–March 2026 (N = 1,976).
Assessed demographic predictors of experiencing vehicle firearm theft using multivariable Firth logistic regression models.
Overall, 2.7% of firearm owners reported a vehicle firearm theft, with older age predicting lower odds of theft and non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic respondents showing significantly higher odds than non-Hispanic White respondents.
Among victims (n = 53), thefts primarily involved handguns taken during late-night hours in residential driveways or streets from easily accessible compartments lacking dedicated locks.
While 85% of victims reported thefts to law enforcement with firearm details, most weapons were not recovered, prompting 72.9% of victims to stop leaving firearms unattended in vehicles and 29% to upgrade vehicle security.

Cite This Study

Testa et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9fd7b758e84d0ff5b46a12 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-026-01975-3

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Implication

National survey uncovers a 2.7% vehicle firearm theft rate in firearm owners, highlighting the critical need for dedicated locking devices.

Firearm Thefts from Vehicles in the United States: Results from a National Survey of Firearm Owners

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

Firearm Thefts from Vehicles in the United States: Results from a National Survey of Firearm Owners

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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