CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — Two of Clayton County‘s top law and order officials are teaming up to make residents safer.

An analysis of the most recent FBI data by gun safety group Everytown finds on average, a gun is stolen from a vehicle every nine minutes in the United States. Jurisdictions across metro Atlanta have been raising awareness about the escalating rates of firearm thefts from cars in recent years.

Clayton County Police Chief Kevin Roberts and District Attorney Tasha Mosley are hosting a gun lockbox giveaway this weekend.

“With consideration to the constitutional carry law that passed a few years ago, where it allowed more people to openly carry and carry concealed firearms, since that time we’ve seen a large influx of gun thefts from vehicles, as always from homes,” says Clayton County Police Lt. Ricky Porter.

“The car break-ins, while it’s a felony, it doesn’t scare a lot of people off because most of the time now they know that there are more firearms on the street,” Porter says. “They also know they have more access by breaking into vehicles and more of a good chance of finding a gun if they’re lucky.”

The DA and police chief used grant money to provide 500 heavy-duty lockboxes for Clayton County residents, who will have to show ID confirming they live in the county. The event will also have safety experts and juvenile court authorities there to mingle and give advice.

The giveaway isn’t just to deter theft, but to prevent injury and save lives, too.

“I’ve worked as a detective for [the Major Felony and] Crimes Against Children [Unit], and responded to several cases where children were accidentally injured finding a firearm, whether it’s in a dresser, under a pillow,” says Porter.

“It’s always a tragic loss to lose anybody, but especially a child, when we can prevent these types of incidents from happening just by simply securing our firearms appropriately.”

The lockbox giveaway is Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Clayton County Police Headquarters at 7911 N. McDonough Drive.

It’s scheduled from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., but it’s first-come, first-served while supplies last.