Almost 6000 illegal firearms have been seized across Melton in a nationwide crackdown.
Operation Unification ran for two weeks from June 16 and focused on illicit firearms, including those in the possession of criminals or suspected of being used for crime.
In Melton, Melton West, Kurunjang and Toolern Vale alone, 3141 firearms, including 2130 shotguns and airguns, were recovered, while 1558 were seized in Brookfield, Exford, Eynesbury and Melton South and 605 in Rockbank and Plumpton.
Moorabool also ranked highly, with a total of 3059 guns seized.
Melton police’s Acting Inspector Trevor King said residents should not be alarmed by the statistics, but he admitted illegal firearms were a concern across the state.
“We haven’t identified it as a major problem, but we are vigilant and aware of any persons of interest,” he said.
“It’s always a worry that there are things like this out in the area . . . Operation Unification provided a focus for this issue.”
Inspector King said the operation was not aimed at any specific age or community group.
He said some people in possession of firearms used them for hunting or kept them as family heirlooms, and he urged residents to contact the district firearms officer to have them registered.
Assistant Commissioner (Crime Command) Stephen Fontana thanked the community for its assistance during the campaign.
“We received numerous calls from members of the public, which shows Victorians don’t accept the presence of illegal firearms in our community,” he said.
“Police will continue their focus on illicit firearms and urge anyone with information about illegal guns to come forward. Almost every day our members pull up cars and find loaded firearms.”
Mr Fontana said information from the public about illegal guns could save a life or prevent serious injury.
