Police investigate firearms incidents overnight

Police are investigating two separate firearms incidents in Launceston early this morning.

No one was injured in either incident.

At around 1am, police attended a residence in New Street, Invermay, where a firearm was discharged into a rear bedroom window. The occupants of the residence were present at the time but were physically uninjured. The occupants were confronted inside the residence by an offender and a small amount of property stolen.

Around 4am this morning, a residence at St Leonards Road, St Leonards, sustained damage from a single shot through the front lounge room window. The occupants of the residence were home at the time and were uninjured.  A small white vehicle was seen leaving the area at the time of the incident.

Detectives from Launceston Criminal Investigation Branch are investigating and are appealing for witnesses to either incident, or anyone who saw a small white hatchback at the time, to contact Tasmania Police on 131444 or by calling Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

The firearms taskforce is continuing to investigate intelligence relating to firearms and seeking to take as many illegal firearms off our streets as possible.

“So far, a total of 33 firearms and more than 1000 rounds of ammunition has been seized in the past 7 weeks. Of course, there are still more illegal firearms out there and we are committed to taking them off our streets,” Inspector Nathan Johnston said.

“We know that there are people out there in the community who know people in possession of illegal firearms.

“We need these people to come forward and provide information so we can take these illegal firearms off the street permanently.”

Anyone with information about stolen firearms or illegal firearms activity is urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au.