Sub-machine-gun replica stolen

Press, 30 May 1987, Page 8

Sub-machine-gun replica stolen

A replica sub-machine-gun was among items stolen in a $7OOO burglary at Christchurch’s Army Surplus Store in Manchester Street on Thursday night. The 9mm Sterling replica, fitted with a folddown stock, is valued about $3OO.

“It’s a dead spitting image,” said the owner of the store, Mr Graham Woodley. Mr Woodley said he took it to the police arms office when he bought it to check its legality. “There’s no problem because it’s a replica but the sergeant flinched when I pulled it out of the bag.”

“I took it to the police because it was so realistic.”

Mr Woodley said the burglars used a cast-iron grille from a gutter to smash a side window. They stole a World War

II German helmet, a French Foreign Legion camouflage jacket, and a full set of motor-cycle leathers valued at $6OO.

The burglars also made off with about 500 rounds of spend machine-gun shells on a number of belts.

Two hand grenades went missing, one chromed but the other realistic and complete with a pin.

Other items stolen included camouflage jackets, camouflage tshirts, camoflage bush jackets, jacket liners, combat boots, a 75-litre camouflage pack, an 1893 bayonet, and a belt of spent practice rounds which were chromed.

Mr Woodley said most of the goods were clothing used as ordinary wear. “A lot of people are now wearing camouflage gear,” he said.