Aussie Robbers tie up kids & mom and steal sports pistols

[mroutage]

A WOMAN and three children were tied up by robbers in a terrifying home invasion during which five handguns were stolen.

The Herald Sun reports the intruders stormed into the house in the Melbourne suburb of Hampton Park, police said, and bound the three children, aged 11 to 15, along with a woman, aged 40.

A man in the house, 47, was forced to hand over the guns, which had been stored legally.

The incident happened at 8.45pm last Wednesday, June 3, but police only released details to the public this morning.

Victoria Police said when the man answered a knock at the door he was pushed to the ground and restrained by one of the intruders.

Another two men stormed in and bound the family.

"The male victim complied with demands and assisted the offenders in gaining access to several firearms legally stored at the premises," a police spokesman said.

"The offenders fled the scene in possession of five handguns, a small quantity of gunpowder and two mobile phones."

The guns have not been recovered.

news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25603753-5001028,00.html

 

[CoRoMo]

Are you suggesting a focused discussion, or just reporting the news?

 

[Old Fuff]

Well it does suggest that there are problems in down under, gun-restricted Utopia.

Criminals have used a similar tactic (holding a family hostage to force the man-of-the-house to open up a store, bank or whatever), so why not do the same to obtain weapons – although most competition guns are not ideal for what they probably have in mind.

Again we see an example of the flawed thinking that passing laws can control criminal use or possession of weapons. Obviously criminals don’t pay any attention to statutes, and if guns are banned they smuggle them in.

Regarding both firearms and illicit drugs, where there’s a market there will be a way.

Consider a discussion to be under way...

 

[Hugo]

Let's hope Australia and later UK get better politicians elected and the people get their rights restored. Perhaps these better politicians could make a "Bill of Rights" for their countries.

I think the USA is STILL (sadly) the only country on Earth with a "Bill of Rights" in the Constitution. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

 

[shdwfx]

No matter. I'm sure the robbers will also store the firearms legally. That's what's important.

 

[rogertc1]

Does the Government down under publish a list of who owns guns?
Some cities publish CCW lists as public records in the USA.

 

[Grey_Mana]

If similar crimes have happened in the US, in jurisdictions that demand/were demanding that weapons be locked up at home (such as DC), how would we find out about it? I wouldn't expect the DC police, or DC news media, to disseminate such information.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I invite those down there to come here and KNOCK on MY door. It aint opening for anything. They are gonna have to go through it.

Rule one: No opening door.

Rule two: Teach everyone how to fight.

Three: never buy more weapons than you can bring to battle at once. Excess weapons are ching ching to the bad guys should you not survive.

There is information availible to anyone on those who own guns. In my state it's last name and zip code. It's not too difficult to google until you hit the right house.

 

[CoRoMo]

I think the USA is STILL (sadly) the only country on Earth with a "Bill of Rights" in the Constitution. Correct me if I'm wrong on that.

Sure, we have the BoR, but our government pays little attention to it, resents its existence, and strives for its deletion.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

While we strive to have a Government that is supposed to be on OUR payroll, working FOR us.

But no, we are fighting a series of surprises over these last few months over little things like brass disposal that affects the whole USA without anything being said in the media.

No matter, wait a few months. The US Government might just declare a Force Majure and render all of us cut loose and irrevelant except those who have been preparing for that day.

 

[Dain Bramage]

Fortunately, thanks to strict Australian gun control laws, it should be relatively easy to recover the guns. If the police can discover the gang's whereabouts, all they have to do is knock on their door. The criminals will have no choice but to show the police where the legally stored guns are kept locked up, away from the ammunition.

 

[Leanwolf]

HUGO - "Let's hope Australia and later UK get better politicians elected and the people get their rights restored. "

Ain't gonna happen.

L.W.

 

[Yankee]

What ever happened to the Australians?. It would have been much better if these criminals were able to load up with semi-auto rifles down the local gun shop and the home-owner had the right to open carry in his house. Then we could all be reading a far more dramatic news story about the resulting shootout and the kill ratio between the robbers and the women/children.
I can't for the life of me understand why the Australian don't want to adopt the crime-free society of America which is a direct result of the 250 million or so firearms in our society. Just imagine how much more violent American cities would become if we had similar gun laws to Australia.

 

[Gman1945]

Unfortunately gun ownership has never been considered a "right" in Aus, just a "Privilege". The government here saw fit to withdraw this Privilege after the Port Aurthur massacre. Don't lose your rights America!!!

 

[Nulzilcho]

What ever happened to the Australians?. It would have been much better if these criminals were able to load up with semi-auto rifles down the local gun shop and the home-owner had the right to open carry in his house. Then we could all be reading a far more dramatic news story about the resulting shootout and the kill ratio between the robbers and the women/children.

'Cause it's obvious that criminals who can load up on semi-auto rifles at a gun shop are going to need to steal pistols.

 

[Yankee]

'Cause it's obvious that criminals who can load up on semi-auto rifles at a gun shop are going to need to steal pistols

Right, and armed burglers never break into houses to steal other things. Thats why there is no such thing as break and enter in America. It only occurs in countries where guns are kept under lock and key. Criminals have no reason whatsoever to burglarize houses in the USA because guns are available at the local Wallmart - right?

 

[Nulzilcho]

Right, and armed burglers never break into houses to steal other things. Thats why there is no such thing as break and enter in America. It only occurs in countries where guns are kept under lock and key. Criminals have no reason whatsoever to burglarize houses in the USA because guns are available at the local Wallmart - right?

I may be wrong, but I'm under the impression firearms aren't available to felons via legitimate sources in the United States. Which was my original point.

 

[Yankee]

I may be wrong, but I'm under the impression firearms aren't available to felons via legitimate sources in the United States.

Do you think that every person who breaks into a house in the United States is already a convicted felon? Break and entry is often a first step to more serious crimes and consequently people commiting this type of offense often don't have a record which would prohibit them from legally purchasing a firearm.

 

[JWF III]

Three: never buy more weapons than you can bring to battle at once. Excess weapons are ching ching to the bad guys should you not survive.

I guess I'm taking recruits then. Only thing, I'm not supplying the ammo. Y'all can bring your own.

Wyman

 

[Nulzilcho]

Do you think that every person who breaks into a house in the United States is already a convicted felon? Break and entry is often a first step to more serious crimes and consequently people commiting this type of offense often don't have a record which would prohibit them from legally purchasing a firearm.

Home invasion (particularly armed home invasion, as you indicated) and Break and Enter are entirely different kettles of fish I'm afraid, and are not commited by the same class of offender.

 

[HOME DEPOT GEORGE]

I think everyone's missing the point what stood out to me in the article was the guns were "legally stored'. Had the owner had immediate access to a self defense weapon this most likely would have had a different outcome.

 

[Fetus]

homedepotgeorge,


+1

 

[toivo]

Plus one more: This is the downside of "safe storage" laws.

 

[DHJenkins]

Do they not have peepholes in doors in Australia?!

Who just opens their door like that?

Christ, even when I'm expecting a pizza, I look through a window first before I even approach the door.

 

[Butter]

Jenkins,

You're right. But what has been the resounding call heard from most victims? Something like, "I didn't see it coming." Or, "I never expected this."

The problem, as you have noted, is that just a bit less casualness and just a tad bit more awareness that these things happen to regular folks and you may have not had this occur. Looking out the window and not answering the door to any knock without confirming who's outside is more than just prudent.

As an anecdote, about 14 years ago, I remember a former co-worker who came in crying to the office because one of her friends was killed by gangsters here in Southern California in the city of Gardena. She was over at his rented house the week before. He and some of his buddies rented a nearby house to be close to his parents while on summber break. The guy was getting his masters in chemistry at UC Berkley, but was hanging out during the warm months before classes started again up north. But when he answered the door he was killed. A few months later they got the guys who did it (*if I am not mistaken, it was a Samoan gang). But all along it appears the gangsters had the wrong address and were gunning for someone else as a reprisal killing for some slight done to them. The wrong address and answering the door without checking and the result is a good kid dies. And that's specifically when I check and never answer the door without looking out the peep or the window.