By Associated Press - Tuesday, April 7, 2020

CHAMBLEE, Ga. (AP) - Multiple guns were recently reported stolen from a Georgia police chief’s city-owned SUV, despite a department policy stating firearms should not be left unattended inside take-home cars, police records obtained by a newspaper show.

The firearms were taken from Chamblee police Chief Kerry Thomas’ city-issued Chevrolet Tahoe while it was at an apartment complex on March 26, The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported Tuesday, citing Chamblee police reports.

A window of the unmarked SUV had been shattered, the report said.

Among the items missing from the department vehicle were a rifle with scope, a long rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, magazines, bulletproof vests and police badges from another department, the report listed. It’s unclear whether the guns belonged to Chamblee police.

Two men seen driving a Mercedes-Benz reported stolen from Atlanta were identified as suspects in the break in, Chamblee police said in a statement Friday. Atlanta police said they recovered the car but the guns were not found.

Records indicated that two days before the break-in was reported, Thomas reviewed the department’s vehicle policy - which calls for disciplinary action if it is violated - and signed off on it, the newspaper said.

A city spokeswoman told the newspaper the situation was a “personnel matter that has been addressed.” She did not comment further.

Thomas was not available for comment, the outlet said.

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