A cache of 15 rifles and shotguns stolen from an Invercargill house two weeks ago brings the number of guns taken in Southland last month to 24.
Detective Scott MacKenzie, of Invercargill, said yesterday the latest theft was from a secure gun safe in a house in Bluff Rd on August 28 or 29. The guns belonged to the resident, who was away at the time, and one other person.
Riverton police are also investigating the theft of $14,000 worth of weapons - seven shotguns and one other firearm - plus ammunition from a locked gun safe on a farm at Taramoa, west of Invercargill, in the first two weeks in August.
And Tuatapere police are investigating the theft of a hunting rifle from a vehicle at Rarakau Lodge, near Tuatapere, on August 17.
Det MacKenzie said police did not know whether the thefts were linked.
The firearms stolen from Bluff Rd were all ''modern and usable'' standard shotguns and rifles used for hunting, he said.
The theft was reported about a week ago and police had been ''following lines of inquiry'' since, he said. Now they were appealing for information about the burglary or where the stolen firearms might be.
Asked whether the Bluff Rd theft might be gang-related, he did not want to speculate. Police had their theories about who might be involved and were checking those people out.
Det MacKenzie asked anyone with any information about the Bluff Rd theft to phone the Invercargill police station on (03) 211-0400, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555-111.
Police were also asking all firearms owners to check the security of their weapons and, where possible, to store bolts and ammunition separately from firearms, he said.
