Authorities in Southern California have had more than 300 weapons lost or stolen over the last five years.
The
Orange County Register reported Sunday that an investigation of 134 state and local police agencies from Kern County to the Mexican border showed 329 firearms were lost or stolen and some were involved in crimes.
Some of the lost weapons include Glocks, Sig Sauers, Remington shotguns, rifles and even grenade launchers. The paper reported that officers have treated their weapons in a reckless manner. High-caliber firearms were stowed in backpacks and gym bags, while handguns were hidden in center consoles.
According to the Register, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported that at least 103 of the agency’s 20,000 guns were lost or stolen over the last five years. In Hermosa Beach, the police department conducts an annual internal audit of its weapons, and hasn't lost any.
But many agencies don't track their guns.
California law doesn't require officers to report lost or stolen weapons, but departments voluntarily report missing guns to a state database.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
