Several firearms are unaccounted for after thieves allegedly broke into a northern Tasmania home and made off with an entire gun safe.
Police say the burglary allegedly occurred at a residence on William Street in Beaconsfield on Thursday morning while no one was home.
The offenders allegedly removed a large firearms safe from the property and loaded it into the homeowner’s Toyota Hilux before fleeing the scene, police said.
The stolen 4WD was located burnt out on Holwell Road, Frankford, around 6:40am on Thursday.
The empty safe was later discovered dumped in a ditch on the same road, with its door “cut or torn off”.
The firearms that had been stored inside have not been recovered. No arrests have been made.
Posting on social media, homeowner Todd Russell described the break-in as a “targeted attack” and called on those responsible to return personal items taken from the safe that hold sentimental value.
“I would like them back, no questions [asked],” Russell wrote, adding that knowing someone had invaded his privacy was “absolutely disgusting”.
A Tasmania Police spokesperson said investigations were continuing.
“Anyone who witnessed suspicious behaviour in William St, Beaconsfield, on Thursday morning or has CCTV or dashcam footage from the street between 5am and 6:30am, is asked to contact police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers,” the spokesperson said.
“Police would also like to speak with anyone who observed people acting in a suspicious manner on Holwell Road around 6:40am to 7:30am on Thursday.”
