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

This study examines the prevalence, characteristics, and behavioral responses associated with firearm thefts from vehicles in the United States. Data are from a national survey of firearm owners conducted by YouGov in February-March 2026 (n = 1,976). Overall, 2.7% of respondents reported having experienced a firearm theft from a vehicle. Multivariable Firth logistic regression analyses indicated that older age was associated with lower odds of experiencing a theft, while non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic respondents had significantly higher odds compared to non-Hispanic White respondents. Among those reporting a theft (n = 53), most incidents involved a single event and primarily included handguns. Thefts most commonly occurred from pickup trucks, sedans, and sport utility vehicles, often in residential settings such as driveways or nearby streets, and frequently during late-night hours. Methods of entry included forced access, breaking windows, or exploiting unlocked vehicles. Firearms were typically stored in accessible locations such as glove compartments, center consoles, or under seats. Respondents reported limited use of dedicated locking devices. Following a theft, 85% of respondents reported the incident to law enforcement and provided identifying information about the firearm (i.e., make/model; serial number); however, most stolen firearms were not recovered. Following the theft incident, most respondents reported behavioral modifications such as removing firearms from unattended vehicles (72.9%) or improving vehicle security with technology (29%). Replication is needed with larger samples and research on the efficacy of firearm theft prevention from vehicles through education, secure in-vehicle storage, and related policies should be tested.