A warning for owners, travelers: Loaded guns found in vacation rentals and hotels

"Most of the time, it's a cleaning company that finds the gun," said Det. Sgt. Brian Strickland, of the Kitty Hawk Police Department. Guns are left behind, Strickland said, "fully loaded, ready to go, and then don't even know they left it."

He detailed a few of his recoveries.

"There was a gun in a house for several months in a nightstand," he said. "Come to find out the person had rented the house like three or four months earlier. It's just that nightstand was never opened, but that gun was there the entire time."

When he tracked down the owner, "He was emphatic that he had his gun," said Strickland.

"And then he finally went and looked for it, he couldn't find it," said Strickland.

Strickland told us an officer even found a loaded gun on the side of N.C. Highway 12.

When they contacted that owner, "They said, 'Oh, I know I had lost it, but I didn't know where I had lost it.' They had placed it on top of their vehicle (then) drove off," said Strickland.

He says an unknown number probably haven't been found.

The top concern is safety. What if a child finds a forgotten gun?

"Then we have an accidental discharge, and somebody gets hurt or killed," said Strickland.

To protect the public, police suggest that travelers add some gun safety measures to their checklist.

"If you're going to take your handguns with you or any guns with you, make sure they're locked up, and don't leave them," Strickland said.

He suggested that gun owners tell someone in their traveling party about the gun or set a phone reminder for the last morning of vacation to remember it.

Those staying in a rental home or hotel should check all drawers upon arrival, and call police if a weapon is found.

Law enforcement agencies hold onto found guns. Owners must pick them up in person.

In Kitty Hawk, police keep any ammunition they find and offer each owner a free gun lock.