Police warn rash of firearms stolen from vehicles in Hartford; one arrest made

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- A rash of thefts from vehicles in Hartford is raising twice the alarm as firearms are being stolen. Police say it puts those unsecured weapons in the hands of potentially dangerous people. 

The vehicles where the guns were stolen from were unlocked at the time. Police say they have recovered some of the stolen firearms taken in recent incidents, and have made one arrest.

20-year-old Corey Felder has been charged with two felonies involving stolen property. He made his first court appearance on Friday, July 29th.

Corey Felder

Police believe Felder is one of the possibly multiple people involved in a rash of thefts from vehicles in Hartford -- recently stealing guns.

"Obviously that poses risk to to the community at large and to police officers as they're investigating this," said Lieutenant Scott MacFarlan, Hartford Police Department.

The vehicles targeted have something in common, they were all unlocked. 

"These crimes are crimes of opportunity and these individuals who are going out stealing from cars are largely leaving the vehicles that are secured alone," said MacFarlan.

Dylan Hanni learned that lesson first hand.

"I had a headset in my car, went out the next day to go to school and it was gone," said Hanni.

It was an expensive lesson to learn.

Dylan Hanni

"I lost about $130 headset," said Hanni.

But now, besides locking his car...

"I like completely emptied my car now, nothing is valuable in there, I have like a pair of old shoes and that's about it," said Hanni.

That's exactly the message police hope gets across, especially now that firearms are involved.

"We're asking the responsible owners the owners of the guns themselves to make sure the vehicles are locked to make sure they don't end up in the hands of those individuals who might use those for ill purposes or illicit purposes," said MacFarlan.

The prosecution claimed Felder admitted to trying to sell the guns he stole. That was part of the reason she requested a higher bail -- cash bond was set at $2,000. If convicted of both charges, he could face up to 12 years in prison.

Police continue to investigate and search for possible suspects.