12 Apr 2017

Dunedin man jailed over theft of 28 guns

8:23 am on 12 April 2017

A Dunedin judge has warned people with firearms to keep them safe after a man broke into a gun club member's home and stole 28 guns and 25,000 rounds of ammunition from unlocked cabinets.

Raymond Mosley

Raymond Mosley Photo: RNZ / Lydia Anderson

Raymond Mosley, 39, was sentenced to four years and four months in jail in Dunedin District Court today after posing as a glazier to break into the house of a Dunedin Pistol Club member in broad daylight.

He and an associate were charged with taking 23 handguns, four military-style semi-automatics, one shot gun and thousands of rounds of ammunition from the Maitland Street property last October.

Mosley pleaded guilty to the charges in January.

The court was told the guns were kept in an unlocked cabinet and gun safe, and Judge Michael Crosbie said it was clear the house was targeted so the stolen guns could be onsold to gangs.

"I hope that legitimate owners of firearms take a lesson away from this, not only about safety and security of firearms, but also the volume that are stored in residential settings.

"I say that because of the interest that exists in such firearms as this balance of the summary shows."

Members of the Hells Angels gang and the Bandidos quickly bought the guns, the judge said.

In January, patched Bandidos gang member Grant Andrew Latimer, 57, was jailed for almost two years on 11 charges over receiving and possessing some of the stolen guns.

Judge Crosbie said he did not accept Mosley's explanation that he had gone to the house to confront someone and was conned by an associate into donning a high-visibility vest and breaking in through a window.

"[It's] alarming that such quick contact was made with senior members of criminal gangs, and in my view the burglary - which you've agreed you were party to - was committed with that market in mind," the judge said.

"The offending can only be regarded as the most serious of its kind, introducing weapons including those of high-calibre, semi-automatic nature into the community."

Crown prosecutor Craig Power said the stolen goods were worth more than $46,000.

He said Mosley was under intensive supervision for unlawfully possessing a sawn-off shotgun at the time of the burglary and had previous convictions for burglary from several years ago.

A victim impact statement from the 48-year-old owner of the guns said he suffered lack of sleep and was now deeply suspicious of people, Mr Power said.

Mosley's lawyer Steve Turner said Mosley understood the seriousness of his actions.

"He made a full and frank confession to the police about his involvement, he didn't muck around about it."

Mr Turner said Mosley had the support of his family, who had been upset by the offending, which had occurred after Mosley became heavily involved in drugs.

Judge Crosbie said Mosley had let himself and his family down and ordered him to pay more than $14,000 in reparations.