Anti-aircraft gun among weapons haul

Famous historic weaponry was among firearms stolen during shipment to a Christchurch gun dealer last month, the city's District Court was told today.

Kieran Allan Griffin, 18, storeman, admitted theft by failing to account for the  package in transit.

He was told by Judge Graham Noble that the offending showed ``predetermination and planning'' and he suspected it was likely to have been going on for some time.

The guns included a 9mm Luger model P08, an LMG 30.6 calibre BAR 1918 automatic rifle, and a 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun, as well as a 7.65mm Unique Court 9 pistol.

The weapons worth $8000 were being shipped from a Wellington arms auction to Christchurch's Gun City shop last month.

The court was told Griffin was driving a forklift at a depot where the package was unloaded to allow access to other goods, and he and his friend noticed it was not on the manifest.

It was set aside outside the depot's roller-door and picked up later.

The theft was discovered and the guns were recovered before they could be on-sold for some ridiculously low price, Judge Noble said.

He imposed a sentence of 250 hours of community work.

"That's long enough to demonstrate to you and others of like-mind that this sort of thing simply won't do.''

The alleged co-offender has not yet been dealt with.

- NZPA