An expired license plate led to the arrest of a Columbus man who was allegedly carrying a stolen handgun.

Columbus police stopped the vehicle at about 1 a.m. this morning near 17th Street and Central Avenue. The driver, 31-year-old Barrett B. Finke of Columbus, told police he had a handgun in the car and a check on the gun revealed it had been reported stolen almost four years ago, according to police reports..

Finke said he bought the handgun from an online ad and did not realize it was stolen. He is facing preliminary charges of possession of a handgun without a license and receiving stolen property.

The arrest comes on the heels of Columbus police asking gunowners to make sure their firearms are securely stored. Since 2016, there have been 183 firearms stolen in the city, most from unsecured homes or vehicles.