Masked burglars hoped to find large quantity of cannabis but found guns instead

Two masked men believed they would find large quantities of drugs at a northern home after they broke in. But instead they made off with a haul of jewellery and guns.

ADAM Roy Triffett was hoping to find a large amount of cannabis when he and another man broke into a Ravenswood home wearing masks last year.

Instead they made off with three guns worth $5000 and goods including jewellery, binoculars and fishing equipment.

Triffett, 35, from Rocherlea, was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Launceston on Tuesday after pleading guilty to stealing firearms.

Crown prosecutor Luke Brett told the court Triffett, his co-accused Aydain Kane House and a third person drove to a Ravenswood address in a Mitsubishi Lancer about 3.30pm on May 9, 2019.

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Mr Brett said Triffett and House forced entry through the back door of the home and stole property while the third person remained in the driver’s seat of the car as a lookout.

He said they came across the complainant’s gun safe, forced it open and stole the two rifles and shotgun inside.

“The complainant was notified of the burglary by a neighbour,” Mr Brett said.

Police executed a warrant at a property associated with Triffett and House and found Triffett’s Lancer parked at the rear of the property.

They found stolen property including one of the rifles in a shed and more property in the car.

Police found the stolen shotgun in a cupboard at a second property.

The third gun has not been located.

In an interview with police, Triffett said he went to the property because he believed there was a large amount of cannabis stored in a freezer that he wanted to steal.

Mr Brett said Triffett had a history of similar offending.

Defence lawyer Fran McCracken said her client did not know where the third stolen gun was now, but he had told police where he left it.

Justice Robert Pearce said; “Stolen firearms generally fall out of the control of the authorities and into the hands of people who use them to commit serious crime”.

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He said Triffett had a demonstrated history of drug use which was “closely linked to this crime”.

Justice Pearce said a term of actual imprisonment would put an end to the drug treatment order Triffett was serving and instead sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment wholly suspended for 2.5 years.

House was also charged with stealing firearms and was sentenced to a drug treatment order for his involvement in the burglary.