Four men have been arrested and charged following the theft of a firearm and ammunition from an unmarked police car in Townsville. The incident occurred on Sunday at a secure apartment complex in the city's CBD, where CCTV footage showed the alleged offenders using an angle grinder to break into the vehicle.
The stolen police gun has not yet been recovered, despite extensive searches. During raids on Monday night, police seized a 22-calibre pistol and a rifle, but the missing weapon remains at large. The internal Ethical Standards Command is investigating the officer's actions, and the officer has been stood down from operational duties.
Chief Superintendent Graeme Paine expressed deep concern over the theft, stating, 'We are here to keep the community safe. Any actions that we do that potentially expose the community to an increased risk is devastating.' Police believe the theft was not targeted, as four other cars were also broken into at the same complex.
The four men charged are Reagan Samuel Sailor, 24, Adam James Kubea, 40, Jack Noel Spark, 25, and Jye Peter Walker, 18. They face multiple charges including unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. They have been remanded in custody and are due to appear in court again.
Additional specialist officers from Brisbane have been deployed to assist in the search for the stolen weapon. Police have found no evidence linking the stolen gun to a robbery in the suburb of Douglas on Sunday night.
