Peoria’s experienced more gun crimes in the last 40 days than it did in the previous four months. But gun thefts are also higher for the year.
So far there have been 32 shooting incidents and victims, most all black, one white including four women and 28 men. Most of the shooting happened between 10:00p.m. and 2:00a.m. to people 18 to 29 years-old. But police have also seized 144 guns. That’s more than double the number collected during the same period two years ago.
Peoria Police Chief Jerry Mitchell says the 25-percent increase in gun theft is likely related. The chief says stolen guns are typically sold on the street for pennies on the dollar. “It’s not very difficult for a city this size for somebody who wants to purchase a firearm who legally cannot own one or possess one to find one. The challenge in front of us is how do we tighten that up? How do we make it more difficult for people to have access to that.”
The chief asks those that have firearms, including concealed carry in vehicles, try to do a better job securing them. Mitchell says he's "not saying that it’s their fault by no means, we’re simply saying we need a little more on their part to make sure these guns don’t get on the street.”
Mitchell says thieves typically rob unlocked vehicles first and look in three or four places where you are most likely going to have valuables or firearms in a home. He says securing a gun or guns beyond those easy to get at points could make a difference.