A SPATE of gun thefts across Victoria has reignited calls for a crackdown on firearms stored at rural properties.
More than 45 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition have been stolen from registered gun owners during 12 burglaries in the past two months in the state's west, including 10 farms heists.
Half of the guns were stolen last week from three rural properties at Lavers Hill, Corio and Kyneton.
The Kyneton burglary included the theft of an entire gun safe with 11 registered guns being legally stored and 250 rounds of ammunition stolen.
Victoria Police head of farm crime Superintendent Craig Gillard said firearms stolen from rural properties had become prevalent in recent years and urged registered gun owners to take precautions to increase their storage security.
"I don't lay the blame at the feet of the registered firearm owners because the overwhelming majority store guns in accordance with legislation but I ask people to be aware and keep their ear to the ground for criminal behaviour," Supt Gillard said.
"[Theft of guns] presents a significant risk to community and police who come across these firearms in the possession of criminals."
Supt Gillard said the trend to target rural properties was due to criminals branching out from urban areas.
"In the past two years, they've become a hot commodity," he said.
"We know that some of these firearms are turning up in metropolitan Melbourne, people within the drug trade have been found with these firearms.
"These (stolen) firearms are circulating in to the hands of unregistered and unlicensed people who clearly don't want them for lawful purposes."
Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) reported 699 firearms, accessories or munitions stolen from regional Victoria, a rise of more than 50 thefts on 2013.
CSA figures showed the total number of firearms included 406 from the western police region, from Bacchus Marsh to the north and west border of the state, and 293 from the eastern police region, taking in Gippsland and the North East of the state.
Agricultural properties tallied 314 of the 2014 firearm thefts, with the worst month being October with 104 reported firearms stolen.
A recent burglary near Ararat identified stolen firearms which were last seen by their registered owner last October, which Supt Gillard said highlighted a need to regularly check the security and storage of firearms.
"People need to understand there are criminals out there that want to access your firearms so you need to make it as hard as possible for them to get access to them," he said.
Supt Gillard encouraged registered owners to take extra security measures when storing guns when the property is unattended.
"It doesn't sit comfortably with me that people would leave firearms in a house while they go away on a holiday -- it should be stored with a licensed firearm holder or dealer," he said.
"It is about taking the extra steps available to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim and their firearms falling into the wrong hands."
While the State Government was not planning on limiting gun ownership, a spokesperson for the Police Minister, Wade Noonan said the State Government was in consultation with Victoria Police regarding the recent firearm thefts to evaluate the extent of the issue.
"We will work to ensure that policing and legislative measures are working appropriately for the safety of the community," senior media advisor Vanessa Williams said.
"The Victorian Government is determined to ensure firearms are kept securely and that people owning firearms for legitimate and lawful purposes are not targeted by criminals."
