Victoria: Off-duty and loaded Smith & Wesson police car is STOLEN in burglary – now the gun is for sale via an encrypted app for $30,000
A police car and an officer’s loaded Smith & Wesson pistol were stolen during an ‘aggravated burglary’ at a residential home.
The theft of the .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, which was stored in the unmarked police vehicle, happened at 5.30am on Tuesday in Melbourne’s southern suburbs.
Although no one was injured during the incident, the stolen gun is believed to have quickly appeared for sale on the black market.
An image of a Smith & Wesson, and a hand holding a loaded magazine next to it (pictured), appeared after the break-in on an encrypted chat platform used by organized crime figures
A semi-automatic police pistol was taken from an unmarked police car on Tuesday morning. The car has been recovered, but the gun has not. Pictured: an unmarked Australian police car
An image of a police-issued Smith & Wesson, and a hand holding a loaded magazine next to it, appeared on an encrypted chat platform used by organized crime figures after the break-in.
An anonymous underworld crime figure told it The age the gun retails for $30,000.
However, the stolen police car has been recovered.
It was found dumped in a nearby Melbourne suburb at 10.30am on Tuesday.
“This firearm has yet to be recovered and a major investigation is underway to locate it,” Victoria Police said in a statement.
‘The thieves also stole a number of other items from the home. No one was physically injured in the incident.
‘The exact circumstances surrounding the aggravated burglary are still being established and police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.’
Investigators do not believe the officer was specifically targeted by the thieves.