POLICE seized 85 prohibited weapons during a raid on a Highpoint shopping centre store last week.
Footscray police were joined by members of the Victoria Police licensing services division in Wednesday’s raid.
The haul included imitation AK47s and other machine guns, pistols, revolvers and a throwing axe.
A 33-year-old Melbourne East man was interviewed at the scene and will be charged on summons with offences including unlawfully bringing prohibited weapons into Victoria, unlawfully displaying prohibited weapons for sale, possessing imitation firearms, possessing a prohibited weapon other than an imitation firearm, and offences relating to the recording and sale of prohibited weapons.
Footscray’s Inspector Tony Long said the raid was sparked by a recent confrontation between police and a youth who was carrying an imitation gun.
“Attending armed police obviously took the matter very seriously. Luckily, the incident ended peacefully,” he said.
“I am very concerned about the number of these imitation weapons in our community. There are legitimate collectors; however, they need to be licensed, as does anyone selling these types of items.”
Inspector Long warned that imitation weapons in the wrong hands could be used to commit crime.
“Imitation weapons of this type are a real problem. They are made of metal and wood, the actions work and they look and feel like a real firearm,” he said.
