Rival gangs suspected in gun theft

Press, 1 December 1978, Page 1

Rival gangs suspected in gun theft

Christchurch's rival gangs are under police suspicion after a big arms theft at Waiau. Seven semi-automatic shotguns and three .22 calibre rifles were stolen after a Pest Destruction Board shed was broken ,into at Waiau on Wednesday night. In view of the tense gang situation ih Christ- ’’ ’ church, police sources said, the arms theft had prompted "quite a bit of concern.” ; Superintendent J. F. Glynn said a general watch was being kept on ; the gangs. “At this stage we have i no evidence to link the theft with the gang situ- i ation,” he said, “but the” possibility has not been discounted.” The firearms were stolen after a locked door to 1 the shed was forced. A < quantity of ammunition i was not touched. ’

No arrest had been made by last evening. More than 20 members of southern motor-cycle gangs, including the Antarctic Angels, from Invercargill, arrived in Christchurch on Wednesday night. As the. motor-cyclists arrived, members of the Black Power, Mongrel Mob. and Highway 61 gSngS were holding a peace meeting at the R e hu a Marae in .Springfield Road. St Albans. . All Of "tht dty’s biggest gangs had been under surveillance yesterday, but there had been no problems, a police spokesman said. The two gangs most involved in tne recent troubles — Black Power and the Epitaph Riders — both had firearms and other weapons confiscated in police raids at the week-end.