A sobering reminder not to let complacency creep in is how a young Hamilton Constable describes the discovery of a loaded handgun in a cyclist's bag this morning.
Constables Jasmine Green and Ben Coulter were carrying out a routine patrol around Killarney Rd about 11am when they noticed something wasn't right about a man on a push bike without a helmet.
"We were doing proactive area patrolling as there's been a few burglaries around that area and we thought we'd speak to the man about why he wasn't wearing a cycle helmet," said Jasmine.
"However he refused to stop for us and took off, peddling towards the lights heading towards Dinsdale, when he got to the intersection he was heading in and out of traffic which made us think if he was taking that much of a risk there had to be a reason for it."
Catching up with the cyclist on a side street off the western side of Killarney Rd the officers suddenly realised they had a lot more on their hands than just a potential burglar.
"He was very agitated and had to be cuffed, on inspecting his bag we saw what looked like the butt of a pistol so we called up our Sergeant who identified the weapon as a 1917 Mk VI .455 Webley- it was loaded and looked like a hand cannon.
"It would be fair to say in the nearly three years I've been in the Police this was certainly the most unnerving moment I've encountered and it's a good warning about letting complacency set in, it makes you wonder how many other offenders have access to such firepower?"
The man was arrested and charged with illegal possession of a pistol and failing to stop for Police, he will be appearing in the Hamilton District Court tomorrow.
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