Skip to main content

What’s worse than teenagers breaking into cars? Teenagers breaking into police cars to steal guns have to take the cake. Fortunately, cops in Chattanooga, Tennessee, caught up with two teens after they broke into a police vehicle to steal a tactical rifle before they got too far with the deadly weapon. 

Authorities in Tennessee arrested two teens for stealing at least one gun and a magazine from police cars

The Chattanooga Police Department must be glad to have a rifle back after a couple of teens stole it from a police car. According to the authorities in Southeast Tennessee, two teenagers, ages 16 and 13, targeted police cars from two different departments.

To start, the teens targeted a Soddy Daisy Police Department vehicle. They stole a rifle and its optic out of that patrol car. However, they didn’t stop there. Instead, the teenagers broke into a Chattanooga Police Department vehicle and stole a Magpul PMAG magazine. 

Following the police car break-ins, law enforcement in Chattanooga, Tennessee, released a statement saying that officers responded to reports of a car theft. The vehicle was a 2019 Honda CR-V, a common compact SUV. Interestingly enough, law enforcement identified the 16-year-old as the car thief from a social media video.

After identifying the first teen, law enforcement searched his home and found the 13-year-old. While it’s unclear if police officers recovered the Honda CR-V, they found the rifle and magazine. The weapon, an AR-platform rifle with a Holosun red-dot sight (RDS), is quite a destructive device in the wrong hands. Fortunately, it wasn’t missing for long.

While teenagers, the duo is looking at some pretty serious charges for the events. For starters, police charged the teens with auto burglary and theft. However, police also charged the two with “possession of a firearm.” Even under legal circumstances, Tennessee residents have to be 18 to purchase a rifle like the stolen firearm. However, the Volunteer State doesn’t place age limitations on rifle ownership.

So, how does this happen? Well, many police officers store shotguns, non-lethal weapons, and patrol rifles in their patrol cars. However, most service weapons are typically secured using locking hardware.

Related

Carmax Is Now Allowing For 24-Hour Test Drives

Best in Tips, Tricks & Trends
Avatar photo
Staff Writer

Erik Sherman

Erik Sherman joined the MotorBiscuit team as an Autos Writer in 2022. An admitted petrolhead and an avid motorcyclist, Erik has owned everything from classic cars to motorcycles to modern driver’s cars. Erik also has extensive experience with military and emergency vehicles, ranging from ambulances and fire engines to MRAPs and Humvees. Erik is an eager car and motorcycle reviewer with expertise covering everything from sports cars and electric motorcycles to pontoon boats and jet skis.

Erik holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He also studied Chinese, Energy, and European Politics at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. Erik’s background is unorthodox; he is a United States Marine Corps (USMC) combat veteran, water survival practitioner, and a former firefighter/EMT. Additionally, Erik is a regular volunteer and former instructor with the American Red Cross (ARC). When he’s not working, you can find Erik on his motorcycle or out for a spirited drive.