RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - In Richmond, it can feel like construction is happening everywhere you look.

However, Richmond Police has seen a disturbing trend over the past year: construction workers’ belongings being stolen from their cars while they’re hard at work.

“An unusual uptick, a significant uptick,” said Lt. William Phibbs with RPD.

This time last year, there were only nine of this kind of theft. However, this year, it’s five times higher at 46 thefts. What’s even more alarming is that 15 guns have been stolen.

“Don’t leave guns in unlocked vehicles, don’t leave guns in vehicles, period. Because if someone breaks in and takes your gun, it’s already used in one crime; what’s going to stop it from being used in other crimes? So that’s one more gun that can be used to hurt somebody e

See Full Page