JACKSONVILLE. Fla. – Surveillance video recorded by a homeowner on Fallon Oaks Drive near Fort Caroline Road, shows a thief entering an unlocked truck and stealing a loaded gun.
Glenn Wilke had installed the camera above his garage door. Saturday morning, the camera recorded a person opening up his truck, and rummaging around inside.
Wilke said he did something he said he almost never does, he parked his truck in front of his home, shut the door, walked away and forgot to lock it.
Wilke said he kept a handgun in his truck, and now that gun has been stolen.
The theft was caught on tape, and shows a person who appears young, wearing a hat, shorts and a T-shirt. The person on the video went inside the truck for 10 seconds, then ran off.
"I always lock my car. I always check it, and for some reason, I don't know how... just the rain? An oversight? But you've got to be more careful," Wilke said.
Wilke said he wished he had been more careful because now this person has his 45 caliber handgun, with 15 rounds of hollow-point bullets.
"When I came out the door was open, the console was open, and the little tray was just sitting on the seat," Wilke said.
Wilke said knows he made a big mistake. Now he can only wonder what will happen to that gun.
Wilke called police and reported the serial number of the weapon.
"I'd hate to know there is some kid out there who doesn't know what to do with it, and goes and hurts himself or hurts someone else," Wilke said.
"Out of all the things to leave, you definitely never ever want to leave a weapon in your car. It is not the smartest thing to do," said Channel 4's crime expert Ken Jefferson.
Like Wilke, Jefferson hopes the gun isn't used to hurt anyone.
"They may want to sell it. They may want to keep it. I don't know. The point is, the weapon is in the wrong person's hands," Jefferson said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, at 866-845-TIPS.