Three firearms stolen after thieves use vehicle to knock gun safe from housing in Darling Downs smash and grab

A Westbrook property has been the target of a smash and grab, the latest in a series of offences where thieves have raided rural properties in search of poorly secured firearms, leaving police concerned.

Toowoomba police are calling on farmers to bolster their security systems after a spike in firearms thefts in the Darling Downs over the past six months.

The latest offence occurred at a Holbrook Rd property in Westbrook sometime overnight on July 30-31 where thieves used a vehicle to knock a gun safe from its housing.

They were able to flee the scene with the safe, which contained three firearms.

Detectives are investigating the matter and have called on anyone with information about the offence, including anyone who saw a suspicious vehicle in the area between 5pm Sunday and 8am Monday, to come forward.

Police are investigation after thieves used a vehicle to knock a gun safe from its housing at a Holbrook Road property, Westbrook, sometime between July 30-31, 2023. Three firearms were stolen.

Criminal Investigation Branch Senior Sergeant Paul McCusker said the recent thefts were a good reminder to all weapons holders to secure their properties, and make arrangements for extra security if they intended to be absent for an extended period of time.

This included installing remote CCTV cameras, calling on neighbours to check in, assessing the safety of the firearm, how it is stored and the manner in which gun safes are secured.

“There has been an increase in the theft of firearms in the Darling Downs in the past six months which is a concern for us,” he said.

“Any information provided to police about the whereabouts of stolen firearms will be acted on in a timely manner.”

The Westbrook ram raid comes about two months after more than 40 firearms, including handguns and semiautomatic rifles, were stolen from a Limevale property near Stanthorpe.

Police from across the Darling Downs launched a wide-ranging operation, raiding 12 properties and recovering 37 of the weapons within two weeks.

Police found 23 of the stolen firearms stashed at rural property in Oakey while six weapons were found in a Rockville home.

As a result of the raids 12 people were charged with 126 offences.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.