Stolen Firearms

Stolen Gun Analysis - January 1st, 2019—December 31st, 2022

A record number of homicides and non-fatal shootings occurred in 2020 and continued to climb to new record numbers in 2021 and 2022. Firearm related offenses increased 82% from 2019 compared to 2022. Furthermore, firearm related homicides increased 157% in 2022 compared to 2019. In 2019, 81% of homicides were firearm related, compared to 95% in 2022. The correlation between stolen guns and increased firearm related offenses was not part of this analysis and has yet to be analyzed with statistical measures for this department. However, as the number of stolen guns increased, violent crimes (specifically firearm related crimes), also increased throughout the city.
2022 Homicides
%
More than 2019
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Stolen Guns
%
more than 2019
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Stolen guns increased 95% in 2022 compared to 2019. A sharp increase in stolen guns occurred in June of 2020 with a 96% increase compared to the prior month. The number of guns stolen per month have not returned to the levels prior to this time (June 2020), which was marked by the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide protests.
Guns are stolen most frequently from vehicles and residences. Guns stolen from vehicles increased 124% in 2022 compared to 2019. However, stolen guns from people had the largest increase from 2019 to 2022 (152% increase).
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Stolen guns increased significantly from 2019 to 2020, with record highs in 2021. In 2022 stolen guns decreased 13% from 2021. Over the last three years (2020-2022), the location of stolen guns shifted spatially. This is largely due to the increasing number of guns stolen from vehicles in District 1. Over the last three years, 61% of the guns stolen were from Districts 4, 5 and 7.
Additionally, neighborhoods with the highest amount of guns stolen during this timeframe include Old North Milwaukee (180), Juneau Town (149), Harambee (121), Lower East Side (108) and Walker’s Point (100).

Stolen Guns Analysis - January 1st, 2023 - July 23rd, 2023

Stolen guns decreased 17% in 2023 compared to 2022. In 2023, 59% of guns stolen were taken from vehicles followed by residences (31%) and persons (8%). Guns stolen from person increased 22% in 2023 compared to 2022. The top location types stayed consistent from 2022 to 2023. The top five neighborhoods in 2023 account for 23% of all stolen gun incidents - Juneau Town (41 incidents; D1), Old North Milwaukee (37 incidents; D4, 5, 7), Kilbourn Town (19 incidents; D1), Silver Spring (19 incidents; D4), and Capitol Heights (16 incidents; D7). Guns stolen are most frequently taken on Saturdays and Sundays between the hours of 10:00 p.m. — 1:59 a.m.
Stolen Guns
%
Decreased in 2023
Districts 1, 4, and 7 accounted for 57% of the guns stolen from vehicles (22%-D1, 19%-D4, 17%-D7). Compared to 2022, these areas stayed consistent. Guns stolen from vehicles are often taken in the area of bars during bar hours (11:00 p.m. - 1:59 a.m.). 77% of the guns stolen from residences were determined to be theft from buildings, rather than burglaries. This suggests suspects did not force entry the majority of the time in incidents of stolen guns.

A total of 639 guns were taken from 567 stolen gun incidents in 2023.

About 8% of stolen gun incidents involved the theft of more than one gun. In 2023 the number of incidents in which multiple guns were taken decreased 23% compared to 2022, however, in 2023 there were 5 incidents with 4 or more guns taken with one incident involving 15 guns taken from a garage. Of the multiple gun incidents, residences and vehicles were the most frequent location in which multiple guns were taken (41% and 39% respectively).
Guns Stolen from Vehicles
%
of all guns stolen in 2023
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Guns stolen from vehicles account for 59% (332) of all guns stolen in 2023. Three neighborhoods in District 1 account for 20% of guns stolen from vehicles which include Juneau Town (39), Kilbourn Town (17), Lower East Side (9). See map below. Old North Milwaukee (16), Capitol Heights (13), and Walker’s Point (13) also experienced a high number of guns stolen from vehicles in 2023.
Stolen guns from vehicles cluster around bars/lounges/nightclubs due to security measures that do not allow guns inside the business. In 2023, the 700 block of N Milwaukee St to N Jackson St experienced 20 incidents of stolen guns. This area increased significantly from 2022 in which 1 incident occurred.
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Guns Stolen from Residences

In 2023, 31% (176) of the stolen guns were taken from residences. About 54% of those incidents occurred in Districts 4 (29%) and 7 (25%). Neighborhoods experiencing the highest number of stolen guns from residences include Old North Milwaukee (16), Washington Park (8), Silver Spring (6), Rufus King (6), Harambee (6), and Amani (6). Stolen guns from these neighborhoods account for 27% of all guns stolen from residences.
15% of incidents in which a gun was stolen from a residence was completed by a known suspect, with 50% of those suspects having an intimate relationship with the victim.
Furthermore, approximately 59% of incidents in which the suspect is unknown, the victim was able to identify at least one person with the most recent access to the gun or knew of the guns whereabouts. In incidents where a victim identified one person, the relationship was most frequently acquaintance (31%) followed by family member (26%).
Finally, approximately 24% of guns stolen from residences was completed by burglary with 72% of those incidents involving no identified suspect or person of interest.