"Police warn about use of disturbingly realistic replica guns after armed callout on North Shore "

An 18 year-old man alleged to have been holding a replica gun sparked a full armed Police response on the North Shore this morning.

At 9.44am Police were called by a member of the public this morning who reported seeing a man allegedly waving a handgun out the passenger window of a car in Oteha Valley Road in Albany.

An armed Police operation was immediately launched, co-ordinated and run from the Waitemata Police District Command Centre on the North Shore.

The Police Eagle Helicopter, several Police dog units and a number of front-line officers flooded the area in search of the vehicle.

Around 40 minutes later Police located the vehicle at a property in Paremoremo Road and a safe forward point was established as the Eagle helicopter observed overhead.

Armed officers surrounded the property and an appeal was made via telephone to the young man to come outside with his hands up.

The 18 year-old came out and was arrested.

His Mother and Father were also ordered to come outside.

Officers searched the house and found 5 replica firearms, all of which were disturbingly realistic.

The replica gun (pictured here on the left next to a real Police Glock model 17 pistol) alleged to have sparked the callout was so realistic that it wasn't until officers were able to handle it themselves and look at it closely that they were able to tell it was a fake.

Senior Sergeant Steve Pivac, who commanded the operation at the scene, says "There's no mucking around when it comes to firearms.

Police have to treat every gun as real until we can confirm that it is not, and as this morning's callout has demonstrated, it can be impossible to tell.

Even the trained eye can't distinguish between the real and the replica.

If you're going to have one of these, be responsible and transport it as if were a real gun - lock it away in the boot.

"

The man will be charged with presenting an object resembling a firearm and will appear in the North Shore District Court next week.

ENDS

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