The police officer investigating yet another theft of guns in Southland says although the thefts are ''obviously of concern'', there is nothing to suggest they are linked.
In the fourth incident in six weeks, 14 firearms and ammunition were stolen from a rural property near Mataura on Thursday night or yesterday morning.
Also taken was a large amount of frozen meat, tools, chainsaws, scuba diving gear and a red 2003 Holden Commodore, registration number BQQ793.
A total of 38 firearms, all but one of them a hunting shotgun or rifle, have been stolen from Southland properties since the beginning of last month.
Detective Sergeant Greg Baird, of Gore, said yesterday inquiries into the latest theft had just begun but police did not think it was linked with any of the others.
He declined to comment on whether all the guns stolen from the Mataura property belonged to the same person.
However, he said it was not unusual for keen hunters to own a large number of guns.
Police were unsure whether someone with inside knowledge was targeting the homes of people known to own large numbers of guns, Det Sgt Baird said.
Police have urged firearms owners to check the security and, where possible, to store bolts and ammunition separately.
Southland firearm thefts
• 8 firearms and ammunition stolen from locked gun safe on farm at Taramoa, west of Invercargill, first two weeks of August.
• 1 hunting rifle taken from vehicle at Rarakau Lodge, near Tuatapere, August 17.
• 15 rifles and shotguns stolen from locked gun safe at house on Bluff Rd, Invercargill, on August 28 or 29.
• 14 rifles and shotguns and ammunition stolen from locked gun safe on rural property near Mataura on Thursday night.
