Police are worried too many firearms are falling into the wrong hands and urge gun owners to 'lock em or lose em”.

Waikato Tactical Crime Unit detective sergeant Andrew Mortimore says this year there has been about 17 firearms related burglaries, resulting in more than 75 guns being stolen from across the district.

Police say this year more than 75 guns have been stolen from across the Waikato. Photo: File

'There's no one isolated area where these burglaries are occurring,” says Andrew. 'The most recent incident saw 10 firearms stolen from a Matamata property over the holiday weekend while the week before two Aria homes were targeted.

'Other areas affected include properties in Raglan, Te Kauwhata, Kihikihi, Glenn Massey, Waitoa, Kaihere, Waihou, Waharoa, Matamata, Thames and Te Puninga and three burglaries in Hamilton.”

The greatest number taken from one address so far was 10 from a Matamata property, but his fear is that even one firearm wielded by the wrong person could easily lead to tragedy.

Andrew is concerned that officers investigating drug and dishonesty related offences were recovering firearms too often.

'It's not very often now that we search an address linked to illegal activity that we don't recover firearms in offenders' possession.

'Illegally obtained firearms have become sought after commodities in their own right and there appears to be an unhealthy market developing where offenders can obtain and offload firearms.”

Andrew says the main focus for police is to find the offenders responsible and to hold them to account.

But officers will be working closely with the District Firearms Officer to ensure firearms owners have been securing their weapons according to their license requirements.

'Good security and discretion are two key ingredients in keeping yourself, your family and your community safe in terms of firearms safety.

'When a person suffers a burglary where firearms have been taken, police investigate whether the firearms were appropriately stored and work to identify means to prevent such victimisation occurring again.

'Where firearms are deemed not to have been secured legally then we also look if that owner is a fit and proper person to hold a firearms license.”

Firearms owners are regularly checked to ensure their firearms are stored in the manner set out in the Arms Regulations.

Andrew says: 'If you can't meet these requirements, you may not get a licence or your current one could be revoked.

'It really is a case of "Lock em or Lose em" and we're asking all firearms owners, particularly heading towards duck shooting season to do everything they can to prevent themselves becoming victims.”

SECURITY TIPS:

• All licence holders must install security at their home, even if they don't actually have any firearms. Security requirements are particularly strict for dealers and for licence holders who possess pistols, restricted weapons or MSSAs.
• You must never put a firearm where a child could reach it.
• You must store firearms and ammunition separately or disable the firearms, or both.
• You must keep your firearms unloaded and locked away in a rack, stout cabinet, steel cabinet or strong-room.
• Where practicable remove the working parts or bolts from your firearm so if they are taken, they are inoperable.
• Use firearms responsibly, don't advertise you have them in your home.
• Avoid using firearms with alcohol, drugs or prescribed medications.
• Never leave firearms unattended.