Northland Police are reminding firearms licence holders to review their security, regardless of their remote location, after 3 separate burglaries involving stolen firearms over the weekend.
Investigations are underway into each of the burglaries and it is not yet known whether they are linked.
Between Sunday and Monday, four shotguns were stolen from a residential Ruawai property. The firearms were brand new and were not stored securely.
Between Friday and Monday, three firearms and ammunition were stolen from a gun-safe in a garage at a residential Ruatangata West property. Two air rifles were also stolen from a Mangawhai property, the air rifles had been stored behind an office door.
“Anyone who has a firearms licence is required to store them securely. As well as the obvious concerns about unsecured firearms being stolen by criminals, if license holders fail to secure them they run the risk of having their licence revoked” says Snr Sgt John Fagan, Prevention Manager, Whangarei/Kaipara Police.
Police are also investigating the theft of six quad bikes from a rural property in Pouto over the long weekend.
“Living in a rural and remote area does not unfortunately make you immune to theft or burglary; crime prevention advice for people living in rural areas can be found here, http://www.police.govt.nz/advice/personal-and-community-advice/rural-hub/rural-crime-prevention” he says.
Anyone with information on any of the burglaries is asked to report this to Police.
Information can also be given anonymously to the organisation Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
ENDS
Beth Bates/NZ Police