Bandits steal handguns from Thornbury store in armed robbery
MORE THAN 65 guns snatched from a Melbourne firearms store could fetch up to $10,000 each on Victoria’s black market as detectives suspect an organised gang was behind the Thornbury theft.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MORE than 65 powerful handguns are destined for Melbourne’s underworld after masked armed bandits raided a firearms shop on Monday.
Police confirmed this morning that an audit has revealed the extent of the theft from the High St business.
An organised gang suspected of being behind the raid on O’Reilly’s Firearms in Thornbury, in which four armed robbers, one carrying a gun, stormed in just after 11am.
GUN ROBBERIES IN MELBOURNE TARGET IN-DEMAND HANDGUNS
BANDITS STEAL HANDGUNS FROM THORNBURY STORE IN ARMED ROBBERY
VICTORIAN GUN CRACKDOWN DELAYED OVER POLITICAL DISAGREEMENT
They smashed glass cases with a sledgehammer and threatened a worker.
It has emerged the vehicle used by the bandits was a white Toyota Kluger.
It was stolen from a Glenroy address in December.
Police have not revealed what weapons were stolen.
But O’Reilly’s Firearms stock includes Glock, Ruger, Remington and Browning pistols, which are popular in the underworld.
The most recent crime data shows that, statewide, more than 2310 guns were stolen in the past three years, 760 of them in 2016-2017.
The guns likely to be among those stolen retail for $700 to $1800, but could fetch up to $10,000 on the black market.
Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana said police were concerned owing to the number of guns that were stolen.
“We’re putting all our resources into recovering these weapons,” Mr Fontana said.
“The offenders have done their planning and knew what they were looking for.”
Handguns were always in high demand, would command the highest prices and were likely to be sold to a criminal element, an industry source said.
“There’s no doubt. You wouldn’t get anything for them on the legit market.
“Off-paper (illegally), they’re worth whatever someone will pay for them.”
The four bandits were last seen fleeing the High St gun shop in a white SUV, which was later found dumped 6km away in Clapham St.
Armed Crime Squad detectives were last night gathering evidence from the smashed-up gun shop.
Investigators were considering whether there were links to other robberies.
Almost a year ago, a gang armed with a gun and sledgehammers robbed South Morang Hunting, Fishing and Camping, stealing firearms including five handguns.
A staff member at that shop said Monday’s robbery seemed similar. The bandits a year ago wore balaclavas, and one carried a silver gun; to his knowledge, those robbers were still on the loose.
Shop security had since been upgraded with a buzz-in, electronically operated bulletproof door and an entry limit of one person at a time.
Handguns were no longer shown in glass cabinets.
“You have to rethink your whole security ... They can’t come in unless we let them in,’’ he said.
“The staff from our store empathise with them (Monday’s victims). Having experienced it we understand how they are feeling.”
The gun industry source said the heist would not have been the work of amateurs. He said O’Reilly’s was a professional and well-run gun shop. Typically heavily secured, these were rarely robbed because of the risk.
“It’d take big balls,” the source said. “There’s a chance of coming up against a gun behind the counter.”
O’Reilly’s is part of the Halls Firearms group, which calls itself Australia’s largest gun dealer.
They supply high-powered firearms and ammunition for hunting as well as gunsmith services, including firearm repairs, re-barrelling and trigger adjustments. The licensed dealers stock dozens of firearm types, including 22 styles of handgun retailing for up to $2349.
Handguns — normally bought by licence holders for recreational shooting or by those in the security industry — are kept in glass cabinets. Other firearms are secured on wall racks.
Police said a male staff member at the store was not hurt during the incident.
Anyone with any information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.