Herne Hill family finds gun on front lawn after prowler scare

A terrified family has found a gun dumped on their front lawn after allegedly confronting a prowler. WATCH VIDEO

A terrified family has found a gun dumped on their front lawn after allegedly confronting a prowler in the middle of the night.

A Herne Hill father, who does not want to be named out of fear, recalled the disturbing alleged incident on McCurdy Rd on June 1, saying his young daughter and wife had been left “horrified”.

The ordeal unfolded after hearing rustling noises coming from outside just after 11pm.

He looked through the blinds and noticed a man peering inside the window of his work van.

“I went outside quietly and yelled, ‘what the f*** are you doing?” he said.

A handgun found on the front lawn of a Herne Hill home on Sunday, June 1.

The man stumbled and is alleged to have headbutted a neighbours fence “with full force” before taking off.

By the time police arrived, a black handgun had been found on the nature strip.

“My wife went out the front to see if the police were in our street and she came back in as white as a ghost,” he said.

“I went out and there it was.”

Two police units attended the scene, with detectives seen placing a black pistol into an evidence bag.

“This kind of thing doesn’t usually happen in our area.”

An investigation has been launched into the disturbing incident.

It’s understood another resident on McCurdy Rd reported a man of similar description looking inside his car window on the same evening.

A Victoria Police spokesman said an investigation had been launched into the firearm incident.

“It’s understood a man was seen behaving erratically in the hours leading up to the discovery,” he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit an online confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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Originally published as Herne Hill family finds gun on front lawn after prowler scare