Weapons theft police priority

Police inspect a Dunedin house yesterday from which firearms were stolen on Tuesday. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Police inspect a Dunedin house yesterday from which firearms were stolen on Tuesday. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Police are investigating the theft of an arsenal of weapons from a Dunedin home.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis, of Dunedin, said police were investigating the theft of 28 firearms on Tuesday.

Five rifles and 23 handguns, including several military-style semi-automatic firearms, along with ammunition, were stolen from a flat in Maitland St just before 5pm.

The owner of the guns holds a firearms licence.

''It is extremely important to recover any firearm that is in the wrong hands and police are investigating this crime as a matter of priority,'' Det Snr Sgt Croudis said.

Police have declined to release details on the makes of guns and ammunition stolen.

The Dunedin CIB began a scene investigation at the property on Tuesday night and started making inquiries, which were expected to continue over the next few days.

Police worked at the scene of the burglary yesterday.

A neighbour said police arrived at the flat on Tuesday evening.

Many residents of the street were transitory, she said.

Armed police were called to Moray Pl in central Dunedin yesterday morning but the incident was not linked to the stolen firearms, Det Snr Sgt Croudis said.

An Otago Shooting Sports Rifle & Pistol Club member, who did not want to be named, said it was not unusual for people in Otago to have a collection of firearms of the number stolen.

Most firearm owners never talked about the size of their collections because of concerns the information could be shared and the guns would be targeted by thieves.

''They don't generally make it known among the community what they have. It's just not safe to,'' he said.

It was not known if the owner of the stolen guns was a club member.

-Dunedin police (03) 471-4800, Crimestoppers 0800 555-111.

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment

 

Advertisement