Waikato Police investigating a series of unrelated burglaries across the District involving stolen firearms say an incident in Thames clearly demonstrates the risks to the public associated with illegal weapons and why gun owners should keep their items properly secured.
Thames Public Safety Team supervisor, Sergeant Jared Thompson, said a 16-year-old male will appear in the Hamilton Youth Court today after a round from a .303 rifle was negligently discharged through the wall of his home, through a neighbour's window and on through the roof on Sunday.
"The neighbour's were home at the time and heard a bang but didn't know where it came from, it was only when they noticed the holes the next day that they realised something was amiss.
"As it happened the Currie St incident was close to where a burglary had happened over the weekend in which four unsecured firearms, including a .303 rifle were taken."
As a result of this information members of the Waikato Armed Offenders Squad assisted our staff in securing and searching a Currie St address.
The youth was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, reckless discharge of a firearm and receiving stolen property.
"The 16-year-old admitted discharging the firearm but the weapon was not located and enquiries are ongoing to establish the location of this weapon and the three others and establishing the identity of the burglars.
"While we were very fortunate no-one was hurt in this incident the event highlights the other issue around firearms, that owners are often to lax when it comes to security. In this case the stolen firearms and ammunition were not secured and unfortunately, this is not an isolated case."
Mr Thompson said over the past three weeks colleagues across the Waikato had become aware of firearms being taken in burglaries not just in Thames but in Hamilton, Ngahinapouri, Paterangi and Te Awamutu.
"In several but not all cases, the manner in which the firearms had been secured left a lot to be desired and firearms owners need to realise that when firearms are taken Police do look in to the circumstances of how offenders gained access to them and if an owner is deemed to have been negligent, firearms licence revocation is a consideration.
"Firearms are the most popular commodity for thieves, often we come across burglaries where a large screen television has been removed from the wall but the offenders have discovered firearms, taken those and left the television behind."
Firearm security advice
• Unlike restricted weapons which are recorded against a firearms license holder's B,C and E endorsements, A category firearms such as shotguns, bolt action rifles and .22 cal rifles are unrestricted and their serial numbers are not recorded.
One of the most effective ways to record serial numbers and images of your firearms is for owners to record them on databases such as available on the Operation SNAP website (https://www.snap.org.nz).
• Get a good quality safe. Often gun owners think nothing of spending $1-3,000 on a firearm but are reluctant to spend $500 on a quality safe of thick steel construction with a door with multiple sliding bolts.
• If you have an alarm, install a reed switch on the safe door to ensure the alarm is triggered. Get a dialer linked to your alarm so it phones you when triggered.
• Install your safe in a concealed location. A burglar can't break into your firearms safe if they can't find it or think it's something else.
• Avoid leaving or hiding your safe keys in the house. If you can think of the hiding place, so can a burglar.
• Don't store the bolts and ammunition with the firearms.
• Don't store shooting paraphernalia sure as gun-belts, bush-clothes or decoys near your firearms safe. This draws attention to the location.
"Gun ownership is a privilege that carries a heavy burden of responsibility, what we're asking owners to do is seek help from Police or your local gun club to meet that responsibility."
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