AN Edithvale man was fined $3500 in Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court last week after pleading guilty to possessing ammunition, prohibited weapons, explosives, Category A firearm, and possessing cannabis.
The man, 52, had allegedly told police the weapons – which included railway explosives, hand grenade, ammunition, nun chucks, rifles, crossbow, flick knives, cattle prods, spear gun, ninja stars and various swords – were for self-defence against a neighbour.
The sheet metal worker, of Keith Av, collected the weapons over the years from garage sales and family members. His barrister said most of the weapons did not work and denied his client was planning to use them against his neighbour.
Police two days earlier had attended the address to settle a dispute after a neighbour allegedly attacked his home with a baseball bat, smashing windows.
Caulfield District Response Unit detectives arrested three people after a firearms warrant was executed at the house, Tuesday.
A 50-year-old Edithvale woman was charged with possessing and using cannabis and bailed to appear at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court, 29 July.
The court ordered that the weapons be destroyed.
South East Metro Liberal MP Inga Peulich said the raid was “a great concern and part of a growing crime trend”.
“It is worrying when such a weapons haul is found in your own community,” Ms Peulich said.
“Crime in Kingston is up an alarming 17.7 per cent since the state government came to power, thanks to Labor’s soft-on-crime approach, soft sentencing and police cuts. Premier Andrews needs to take immediate action.”
The statistics also reveal that weapons offences in Kingston have jumped 10.9 per cent in the same period, the MP said.
“By comparison, Kingston’s crime rate fell by 0.04 per cent in 2014 under the Coalition.
“The police are doing their best but need more resources and appropriate sentencing,” Ms Peulich said.
Victoria’s full crime statistics can be found at crimestatistics.vic.gov.au
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 8 June 2016