More stolen guns ending up on streets, Ottawa police say

Ottawa police are blaming what they call a"cultural shift" among criminals for the rising number of shootings in the city, as well as an increasing number of stolen guns in circulation.

For thesecond year in a row, Ottawa has broken the previous year'srecord and set a new one forthe number of shootings.

On Sunday the city recorded its69thshooting of 2017, surpassing the previous high of 68 in 2016.

Insp. Mark Patterson, head of the Ottawa policeguns and gangs unit, told CBCthat criminals are becoming more brazen in the way they carryand usefirearms.

"As these criminals evolve, they've gone from combating one on one, to carrying knives, and now to carrying firearms," he said.

"It comes back to the mentality that they want to be threatening," he explained, adding that other cities in Canada are experiencing a similar dynamic.

Guns taken from homes

While that trend is neithernewnor confined to Ottawa, Patterson suspects a new trend is happening with how gangs are acquiring guns.

In the past the majority of guns used for illegal activity have come from the United States around 60 per cent, according to Chief Charles Bordeleau.

But Patterson believesmore criminals are acquiringfirearms in residential break-ins.

At least two of the two dozenguns seized duringthe Project Sabotage sweepannounced last Thursdaywere acquired that way Patterson said.

The rest are being analyzed to determine where they came from.

"What I would venture to say for this project, we're going to see a different trend where they are being stolen from break and enters," he said.

Patterson said this puts a new emphasis on ensuring gun owners are storing their firearms properly.

Project Sabotage involved a six month investigation led by Ottawa Police which ended Thursday, resultingin 13 people being arrested and 24 guns seized.