Criminal gangs are targeting licensed firearms collectors in the Wellington region with up to two hundred handguns stolen this year, the New Zealand First Law and Order spokesperson, Ron Mark, revealed today.

Mr Mark said he is greatly concerned that gang members are getting access to information about licensed gun collections that should only be available to the Police.

He said that the handguns being stolen are those collected by licensed hobbyists or those stored in strong rooms on behalf of Police approved pistol target shooters who belong to pistol clubs.

“There have been five separate incidents in the Wellington region this year with the latest burglary reported this week after the Easter break.

“The thieves broke into the strong room of a collector and took a number of target pistols. They left behind rifles, shotguns and a number of antique weapons.

“It is disturbing to know that gang members are in possession of hundreds of potentially lethal weapons and equally worrying that these gangsters are getting information that should be locked away in police files,” said Mr Mark.

He called on both the Police Minister and the Acting Police Commissioner to publicly explain what had been done to improve the security of the firearms register and what progress had been made to retrieve the stolen handguns.

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