Firearms Theft in Australia 2004-05

• NCJ Number: 217830
• Author(s): Maria Borzycki; Jenny Mouzos
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 92 pages
• Corporate Author: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document (Online)
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: AIC Research and Public Policy Series No. 73; downloaded March 26, 2007.

Annotation

This report examines the characteristics of firearms theft in Australia, including the characteristics of commonly stolen firearms, the modi operandi of thefts, and other related issues.

Abstract

Key findings indicated that 1,470 firearms were reported stolen in 668 incidents in Australia during the period from July 2004 through June 2005. The findings suggest that firearm thefts in Australia have steadily decreased since the implementation of the National Firearms Agreement of 1996. Recommendations are offered and include the advice to review the requirements of firearm storage, develop ongoing programs for inspecting firearm storage facilities, and establish community information initiatives. Recommendations are also made for improvements in firearms theft data collection, such as the inclusion of information regarding the precise locations from which firearms are stolen, such as from a bedroom. Stolen firearms represented 0.06 percent of all registered firearms in Australia and only 0.09 percent of firearm license holders in Australia reported firearms theft incidents. Over half of the incidents involved the theft of a single firearm and rifles accounted for the majority (58 percent) of all stolen firearms. Another one-quarter of stolen firearms were shotguns and almost all of these were single-barreled. Almost 90 percent of stolen firearms were reported within 2 weeks of the theft, with the average delay between theft and report being 2 days. Most firearm thefts occurred in urban areas (83 percent) and 61 percent of all firearms were stolen from private residences. The majority of thefts (53 percent) involved the theft of firearms from owners who were in compliance with firearm storage requirements. Just over 1 in 10 firearms were stolen from vehicles or in transit. In 27 percent of the cases, ammunition was also stolen. In 3 percent of all incidents, previous thefts involving the loss of firearms had occurred in the same location. Stolen firearms were recovered in one in eight incidents and recovered firearms were returned to their owners in about half of these cases. Tables, figures, references, appendixes