Victoria police say recent incidents allude to a trend where officers are seizing several real or imitation firearms every week.
After arresting a man on Jan. 11 in relation to a report about a Cook Street building’s ground-floor windows being smashed, police said three imitation firearms and 0.22-caliber ammunition were found during a search of the suspect.
VicPD described the seized items as glock-style pellet guns with air-powered magazines, which appear similar to the weapons used by officers. The suspect, who had an outstanding warrant for a previous incident involving assault with a weapon, was released with conditions and a future court date.
One day later, police got a report about an argument between a woman and a man who had what looked like a handgun in his waistband. VicPD obtained a search warrant for the Johnson Street home related to the report and found two starter pistols and an airsoft pistol inside. Shotgun shells and 0.22-caliber ammunition were also found during the search.
Two men inside the home were arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm and both were released with conditions and court dates.
Officers find an average of two real or imitation firearms every week, VicPD said. A total of 97 real and 42 imitation firearms were found last year, which police said represents a 73 per cent increase in real gun seizures over 2022.
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