Stolen Guns Are Crime Guns: ATF Philadelphia Field Division Provides Tips for Safe Storage To Protect Your Community

Philadelphia - Agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have seen this pattern repeatedly: unsecured firearms stolen from lawful owners, recycled through violent offenders, and used again and again to commit serious crimes. These incidents often escalate in severity, placing innocent bystanders at risk-frequently in ordinary places, in the middle of the day.

For example, Giante Hilliard of West Mifflin was prohibited from owning a firearm because of his multiple felony conviction, including aggravated assault and terroristic threats. In 2023, he was captured on surveillance video during a dangerous gunfire exchange outside a McKees Rocks bar.

Two months later, during a traffic stop, the driver of the car Hilliard was riding in rammed three police vehicles while attempting to escape. After abandoning the disabled vehicle, Hilliard was seen on surveillance video hiding a black bag under a dumpster. Police recovered the bag and found a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun that had been reported stolen, along with approximately 300 doses of a heroin-fentanyl mixture. Ballistic testing confirmed the firearm was the same gun Hilliard used in the McKees Rocks shootout.

The stolen Smith & Wesson handgun used in the 2023 shootout outside a McKees Rocks bar.

While Hilliard was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison in January 2025, many stolen firearms remain in the hands of criminals. And this is not just a big-city problem; in Altoona, 15-year-old Devon Pfirsching was killed in 2020 with a stolen gun that was reportedly purchased through Snapchat.

"When a gun is stolen, it's not just a loss-it's a threat to our communities," said Walter Shaw, special agent with the ATF Pittsburgh Field Office. For ATF agents, investigating gun violence often means responding after serious injuries or death has already occurred. While agents work every day to identify shooters, trace firearms, and disrupt criminal networks, many cases share a troubling starting point: a firearm that was stolen before it was ever used in a crime.

Special Agent Walter Shaw has served 21 years in various ATF assignments, including leading the Pittsburgh Arson and Explosives Group in operations across northern, central, and western Pennsylvania.

"This is the part of the job we know doesn't have to happen," Shaw said. "We can't always stop someone who is determined to commit violence, but we can prevent many of the guns criminals use from ever getting into their hands."

Shaw explained that investigators frequently trace violent crimes back to firearms taken from homes or vehicles where they were left unsecured, sometimes only briefly. Once stolen, those firearms often move quickly through illegal networks, making recovery more difficult and increasing the likelihood they will be used in multiple crimes.

"When we recover a stolen gun at a crime scene, we're already past the point where prevention was possible," Shaw said. "Secure storage is one of the few points where lawful gun owners can directly interrupt that chain before it starts."

From an enforcement perspective, secure storage is not about regulation or restriction, it is about eliminating one of the most predictable sources of crime guns. Every firearm that is properly secured is one less opportunity for theft, diversion, and preventable violence.

In fact, most crime guns recovered in Pennsylvania were originally purchased legally within the state. In 2023 for example, ATF traced 17,027 firearms recovered during criminal investigations in Pennsylvania. Of those, nearly 10,000-approximately 59 percent-were originally sold in in our state.

Stolen firearms are a major source of the illegal firearms market. Nationally, 95 percent of stolen firearms are taken from private citizens. Pennsylvania recovery data shows that 94.8 percent of stolen firearms remain in-state. While Pennsylvania ranks as the nation's ninth most common source for firearms trafficking, stolen firearms predominantly remain a threat to our own neighborhoods.

"These examples show that stolen firearms rarely remain 'lost,'" Shaw noted. "Instead, they often resurface in violent crimes that hurt Pennsylvania communities."

Best Practices at Home

"Secure storage is essential," Shaw warned. "Guns left unattended in homes, vehicles, or unsecured storage areas provide an easy path for theft and diversion into criminal hands. Firearms should be treated as potential community risks-any gun can be used in a crime if it falls into the wrong hands."

"If you own a firearm, lock it in a safe or secure lockbox, store ammunition separately when possible, inventory and secure all firearms, and report any loss or theft immediately."

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) encourages all gun owners to review their firearm storage practices and take steps to ensure firearms are properly secured. NSSF recommends using a combination of safety tools and educating family members on the core rules of gun safety and proper firearm handling.

• CABLE LOCK: Can be used on most firearms, allows for relatively quick access in an emergency, and provides basic protection from theft.
• GUN CASE: An affordable option to conceal, protect, or legally transport a registered firearm.
• LOCK BOX: Integrated locking mechanisms provide reliable protection and allow for legal transport outside the home.
• ELECTRONIC LOCK BOX: Prevents unauthorized access and allows only the individual with the code to access the firearm.
• FULL-SIZE AND BIOMETRIC GUN SAFES: Provide protection from theft and environmental damage while allowing safe storage of multiple firearms.

Download ATF's safety and security guide for firearms owners.

Theft From Cars

According to national FBI data, firearm thefts from vehicles have been increasing, particularly in rural areas and parking garages. About half of all firearm thefts from vehicles occur when cars are parked at the owner's residence.

Locking vehicle doors does not provide secure firearm storage. Glove compartments and center consoles-even when lockable-are not secure and can be easily pried open. Firearms should never be left accessible to children.

If you must store a firearm in your vehicle, take the following steps:

• Always check-and double-check-that firearms are unloaded.
• Use a secure storage device that keeps the firearm out of sight.
• Avoid leaving firearms unattended for extended periods.
• Remove the firearm from the vehicle and return it to secure home storage as soon as you arrive home.

Consider using a lockable gun case or lock box in your vehicle, preferably one secured to the vehicle itself to prevent theft.

Vehicle storage options vary widely in price and design. Some manufacturers offer custom solutions for specific vehicle models, including:

• CAR CONSOLE STORAGE: Custom-fitted units that provide concealment and deter theft.
• VEHICLE CARGO AREA STORAGE: Designed for transporting firearms to the range or field.
• CABLE LOCKS: Can be effective when secured to the vehicle and kept out of sight.

View resources for secure firearms storage in your vehicle.

My Gun's Been Stolen!

If your firearm is lost or stolen, immediately contact your local law enforcement agency to report the incident. The "time-to-crime"-how quickly a stolen firearm is used in a criminal act-can be alarmingly short.

Providing a complete and accurate description of the firearm is critical for law enforcement investigations, insurance claims, and recovery of the firearm.

ATF strongly recommends maintaining a Personal Firearms Record stored separately from firearms. ATF Publication 3312.8 can be obtained from your local ATF office or downloaded as a fillable PDF from the ATF website. This record is for personal use only and is not collected or maintained by ATF or any other federal agency.

A Personal Firearms Record can help recovery when a firearm is lost or stolen.

By completing and maintaining this record in a safe location, separate from your firearms, you help protect your property and take an important step toward keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals.

"Responsible firearm ownership does not end at the point of purchase," Shaw emphasized. "Secure storage is not just about preventing unauthorized access in the home-it is about preventing predictable, preventable harm when stolen guns fall into the hands of individuals willing to use them."