Investigation reveals 20% increase in stolen guns
An investigation into Sydney gun crime has revealed a near 20% jump in the number of firearms stolen from legitimate owners.
The Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research has revealed exclusively to Seven News the disturbing number of stolen guns on our streets.
Last year over a hundred automatic pistols went missing and it’s believed they were often traded on the street for around $6,000 each.
According to Dr Don Weatherburn from the Bureau of Crime Statistics, "They are a real menace as far as the community is concerned because they are being used in these drive-by shootings and other crimes."
In the last three years, a total of 1,706 guns went missing, and the figure has risen from 540 to 640 firearms stolen in the last year.
This includes:
- 112 pistols
- 56 revolvers
- 339 shotguns
The guns are mainly being stolen from Sydney’s west and south west. There were 315 guns stolen from these areas compared with only 35 guns in the city and eastern suburbs.
According to Former Assistant Police Commissioner Clive Small, "If they are in the hands of groups like bikies which comprise a large number of criminals acting together, then we potentially have a very serious problem."
Western Sydney residents are concerned. One resident of Merrylands said: "You've got kids running around the streets that carry guns themselves these days, you know? It's kind of hard, but you learn to live with it; if not you get shot."
Former Assistant Police Commissioner Clive is most hailed for locking up serial killer Ivan Milat. He says state and federal politicians have been playing the blame game for years by claiming imported guns are the problem.
"Most of the weapons are coming from locally committed crime," he says.
The Police Minister Mike Gallacher disagrees, saying: "It's pretty clear they're coming in through our borders."
The former Assistant Commissioner and the Police Minister did agree that the majority of guns stolen in New South Wales have never been recovered and that criminals are stockpiling these weapons for use at a later crime.
