The Hamilton County sheriff's cruiser and gun were stolen right out of her driveway.Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said the car was locked and the alarm was set.According to a spokeswoman for the sheriff, the car was not damaged.How this even happened is still leaving a lot of people scratching their heads.The sheriff said she cannot explain it, and said the car is brand-new and uses a key fob.For community leaders, this is a prime example that crime can come knocking at anyone's door."If it could happen to the sheriff, it could happen to anybody. Let's be real," State Sen. Cecil Thomas said.Thomas has been pushing a strong message for people to stop leaving guns in their cars, making them easy to grab and go.Now, McGuffey is trying to figure out who stole her 9-millimeter service weapon and her county-issued vehicle Saturday morning.We talked with McGuffey by phone as she is in Arizona at a sheriff's convention this weekend."I had gone out to a barricaded individual out in Symmes Township. So, you know, when I got home, I locked up the car because it was just, yeah, I secured it in the vehicle and locked the car in my own driveway and got busy with something else I had to put my attention to," McGuffey said. "The next morning is when I discovered the vehicle had been stolen right out of my driveway."She said the cruiser was stolen in Columbia Tusculum and found in the Winton Terrace area on Saturday afternoon.The gun was gone, according to officials. McGuffey would not specify where the gun was stored in the car."I don't think by far, I'm the first police officer to have secured their weapon in their car, in their driveway. We have deputies that have shotguns and various things like that secured in their vehicles because they are subject to call-outs and things like that. So, I do not find that unusual. No, I don't," she said.Investigators are examining whether this may have been a key fob hacking situation, like we've reported on in the past, which allows crooks to get into cars."I hope the person who did this, whoever it was or whoever they are, will come to realize that this is not the way you should live and it's certainly not what you should do to your fellow people," McGuffey said.Now, another gun is on the streets.Thomas hopes it is found before it can be used to hurt someone."Guns are getting out here and one of the ways it's getting it, is these, breaking in cars," he said.The sheriff said a few of her personal items were stolen.McGuffey expects there will be protocol changes after this incident.She said this entire encounter makes her a human being and a victim of crime.Officials said the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section is handling the investigation.Thomas said when out in public places where you need to store your gun, you should put it in the trunk of your car and in a locked compartment, if possible.He also said trigger guard locks can make it difficult for anyone to use a gun they steal.
The Hamilton County sheriff's cruiser and gun were stolen right out of her driveway.
Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said the car was locked and the alarm was set.
According to a spokeswoman for the sheriff, the car was not damaged.
How this even happened is still leaving a lot of people scratching their heads.
The sheriff said she cannot explain it, and said the car is brand-new and uses a key fob.
For community leaders, this is a prime example that crime can come knocking at anyone's door.
"If it could happen to the sheriff, it could happen to anybody. Let's be real," State Sen. Cecil Thomas said.
Thomas has been pushing a strong message for people to stop leaving guns in their cars, making them easy to grab and go.
Now, McGuffey is trying to figure out who stole her 9-millimeter service weapon and her county-issued vehicle Saturday morning.
We talked with McGuffey by phone as she is in Arizona at a sheriff's convention this weekend.
"I had gone out to a barricaded individual out in Symmes Township. So, you know, when I got home, I locked up the car because it was just, yeah, I secured it in the vehicle and locked the car in my own driveway and got busy with something else I had to put my attention to," McGuffey said. "The next morning is when I discovered the vehicle had been stolen right out of my driveway."
She said the cruiser was stolen in Columbia Tusculum and found in the Winton Terrace area on Saturday afternoon.
The gun was gone, according to officials.
McGuffey would not specify where the gun was stored in the car.
"I don't think by far, I'm the first police officer to have secured their weapon in their car, in their driveway. We have deputies that have shotguns and various things like that secured in their vehicles because they are subject to call-outs and things like that. So, I do not find that unusual. No, I don't," she said.
Investigators are examining whether this may have been a key fob hacking situation, like we've reported on in the past, which allows crooks to get into cars.
"I hope the person who did this, whoever it was or whoever they are, will come to realize that this is not the way you should live and it's certainly not what you should do to your fellow people," McGuffey said.
Now, another gun is on the streets.
Thomas hopes it is found before it can be used to hurt someone.
"Guns are getting out here and one of the ways it's getting it, is these, breaking in cars," he said.
The sheriff said a few of her personal items were stolen.
McGuffey expects there will be protocol changes after this incident.
She said this entire encounter makes her a human being and a victim of crime.
Officials said the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Criminal Investigation Section is handling the investigation.
Thomas said when out in public places where you need to store your gun, you should put it in the trunk of your car and in a locked compartment, if possible.
He also said trigger guard locks can make it difficult for anyone to use a gun they steal.
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