MANATEE COUNTY – There’s a new problem in Manatee County, and it has nothing to do with oppressive heat or storm threats. According to government officials from all three Island cities, as well as county officials, abandoned and stolen gun cases are on the rise.
Since a law change in 2023, Florida residents who once had to obtain a concealed carry permit and complete safety training and a background check to carry a loaded firearm on their body or in their car no longer need to do anything more than have a valid ID to be legal. While the jury is still out on whether this has had a positive or negative effect on gun-related issues, one thing is clear – guns are coming up missing.
The issue is becoming such a problem that the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has placed lighted signs around the county that warn motorists to lock their cars and secure all firearms.
“Our digital mobile road signs are strategically positioned around the county, often displaying messages about locking your car and not leaving firearms inside,” MCSO Public Information Officer Randy Warren said in an email to The Sun. “These signs serve as a reminder to be smart and reduce your chances of becoming a victim. Burglars know that people make the mistake of forgetting or being careless almost every night. They are aware that this is the easiest way to acquire a free gun, as these criminals rarely obtain them legally. They also know that if they check enough door handles, they will find what they are looking for.”
Warren said that so far this year they had received 71 reports of firearms being stolen from unlocked vehicles. He did not have the stats for the city of Anna Maria, which is patrolled by MCSO, at the time of this story.
In Bradenton Beach, Lt. Lenard Diaz said they had one gun stolen from a vehicle in 2023 but none reported this year.
“We have more of an issue with people renting condos and leaving their guns behind,” Diaz said. “As a matter of fact, we have a person coming back in a month to get her gun because she left it at an Airbnb.”
Diaz said the guns are usually found by cleaning staff. They notify their supervisor, who then contacts the police. Police officers pick up the gun, run the serial number, and, if legal, contact the owner. The one thing none of the Island police departments will do is ship the guns back to the owners, even if they are presumed legal. The reason for this is that owners must show proper identification and proof of ownership to prevent the chance of the lost guns eventually falling into the wrong hands. Diaz said it’s simply a necessary safety precaution that offers no exceptions. Lost guns are put into a secure evidence locker and gun owners are given 90 days to pick up the gun, or, if they live far away, Diaz said he will give them up to a year if he is confident they will return to get the gun.
In Holmes Beach, Police Chief Bill Tokajer says his department has the same issue.
“We haven’t really seen the problem with gun thefts from cars that places like Tampa and even the county are seeing,” Tokajer said. “What we have a problem with is people leaving them in rental units.”
Like Bradenton Beach, Holmes Beach police will not ship lost firearms for the same reasons. Gun owners must return to the city and claim their property with proper ID.
It should be noted that while leaving a firearm unsecured in a vehicle or left behind in a rental unit is not a crime, it is an opportunity for a legally purchased and owned gun to get into the hands of someone who may have very different intentions for its use. Law enforcement from all agencies contacted by The Sun ask that everyone legally carrying a firearm lock their car and always be aware of who has access to their guns. Doing so will make for a safer Island.
