Best way to store handgun in car

Handcuffs are not a very good way to secure something from theft. There are plenty of handcuff keys out there. They're available on Amazon.

Being a creature of habit works against you. Can't carry at work so everyday you get to the parking lot and fiddle with "something" there daily? This was not a crime of opportunity I think. The thief must have seen you do this before and came prepared to deal with it.

I grew up a city boy and avoid leaving anything of value in my car. If I have to I'm as discreet as possible hiding or securing it. For example I use a soft cooler as a camera bag. If someone sees me put it in the trunk when I leave the car they think it's a cooler not a few thousand dollars of camera equipment.

If this occurred at home, better have your home well protected. They'll be wondering what other goodies are inside.

JeeperCreeper said:

First level of security should be concealment. Can't steal it if they can't find it.
Second level of security should be difficulty. Make it so hard that it isn't worth the time to get busted.
A safe is good, but a hidden safe is better. A hidden gun is good, but a gun hidden in a safe is better.

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True. Unfortunately the number 1 and 2 places a thief looks in a car are the most likely places you will store a firearm because they are convenient storage areas. They are under the seats and the glove box. Gun safes put in the trunk of the car for example are less likely to be found but also less convenient for access to store.

GRIZ22 said:

Handcuffs are not a very good way to secure something from theft. There are plenty of handcuff keys out there. They're available on Amazon.

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I used to work for an armed security company. They recommended using our issued handcuffs, through the trigger guard, to store the firearm to a major steel bar in our vehicles. Or attached to WATER pipes in our homes. When I pointed out to the company that they didn't issue us keys for said handcuffs, they changed their directive to using zip ties. Seriously. I carry a handcuff key on me for my current job, got off Amazon for $10 and it works on 99% or so of handcuff brands I encounter. I would much rather rely on even a simple key or a combination that someone can crack in a few dedicated hours.

Sal Mann said:

What is the best way to store it when in a car?

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The best way is NOT to store a handgun in your car

Trunk Monkey said:

The best way is NOT to store a handgun in your car

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The agency I worked for told us in no uncertain terms we were never to leave a firearm in a car, and there was no slack cut if you were unfortunate enough to have to try and explain why one was missing from an auto theft or break in.
I still follow that advice.

Re: handcuffs, probably as many crooks as LEO's have handcuff keys. Since they're mostly universal, in my opinion, they're useless as a security device. Bolt cutters make quick work of any safe cables.

John_R said:

Our city is about a million people and the sheriff's office has been running a campaign to get people to be more responsible about leaving things in their cars. At 9pm check your car, take valuables out, and lock it! Today's Facebook message...

"Last 7 days, 83 auto burglaries to UNLOCKED vehicles in Jacksonville. Of those 83, EIGHT guns stolen. #9PMRoutine time! Lets do this, we can do better than this. Let us know if you did the 9PM Routine and what neighborhood you are representing! "

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So like 1 in 10 people are leaving guns in their unlocked cars? Pretty good ratio for someone looking to obtain a firearm.

Storage is always a balance between speed of access and level of security. Given that someone broke into the OP's car with a grinding wheel, it seems like they knew what they were after and what your measures were.

Keeping what you are storing and how it is stored very, very private makes any storage approach much more secure. In addition to a high level of privacy as it relates to storage of valuable, I also recommend a layered approach. Put any vehicle in a locked garage, and whatever is done to secure valuable inside the vehicle just got much more effective. Now, add a car alarm, surveillance streamed to off-site storage, a dog in the garage, and an alarm on entry points to the garage, and few thieves are going to be willing to mess with all those layers of security for an item valued at under $1000.

Those specific layers may not be applicable or may be prohibitively difficult to arrange for a lot of vehicles. But give some thought to what layers of security you can add given the resources and constraints you have. I recommend having at least one layer represented from at least 3 of the categories below:

1. Physical restraints: safes, locks, cables, chains, etc.
2. Alarms
3. Surveillance with remote storage.
4. Dogs.

Nothing in a car is ever more secure than the car itself, and that is a big challenge and risk.

I use a Tuffy Security Glove Box console in my Wrangler.

They also offer an under-driver-seat box that would work pretty good for most pistols. Doesn't raise the seat either.