Small haul leads to gun hoard fear

Alex de Vos
Geelong’s top cop fears gun owners are holding onto illegal weapons following a month-long amnesty.
Geelong yielded 34 weapons during the Victoria Police amnesty – less than 50 per cent the amount collected in other Victorian regional cities with below half Geelong’s population.
Geelong residents handed over 23 rifles, one pistol, four imitation guns and six “edged” weapons.
Geelong Police Chief Inspector was disappointed with the size of the haul.
“That’s not a lot of weapons,” he said.
“We would have liked to see a few more because we know there are more weapons out there.”
Ballarat owners handed in 96 weapons, while Bendigo Police received 87 and 85 in Wodonga.
Owners handed in more than 2420 weapons across Victoria during the campaign, which started on October 1. The haul comprised 99 handguns, 1748 rifles, 56 imitation guns and 374 long-edged weapons.
Bayonets, machetes, throwing stars and martial arts weapon were also in the haul.
Police expressed surprise after owners handed over a World War Two anti-tank rifle and two historic pistols from the 1840s.
Police said forensic investigators would study the weapons before their destruction.
Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe said Victoria Police was “extremely” pleased with the results, especially in rural areas.
Earlier this month between 10 and 15 firearms fell from the back of a police-marked Ford Territory on their way to forensics in Geelong.
Geelong Superintendent Peter O’Neill said the firearms were collected as part of the gun amnesty.