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Hunt for Weymouth gun raid gang


THREE men are being hunted by police after they stole several shotguns, ammunition and a Land Rover which was later discovered submerged in the Fleet lagoon.

Armed police raced to the scene after the men were spotted in a nearby barn but they fled and are still on the run.

The armed response unit was joined by firefighters, coastguards, forensic science officers and the search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to search the area near the Wyke Regis Army Camp on Camp Road, Weymouth, yesterday morning.

Police said that the gold-coloured Land Rover and numerous shotguns were stolen on Tuesday night from a house in St Leonards Road in Chapelhay.

Police received a report that three men, believed to be the burglars, were disturbed while sleeping rough in a barn in Wyke Regis. They fled the scene leaving behind the shotguns and ammunition.

Later, the missing gold Land Rover was found submerged in the Fleet. It had left the road at the end of Camp Road and gone down a steep track into the water.

The police said the Land Rover had been caught on CCTV going down Camp Road on Tuesday night. They believe it went into the water about 12.15am on Wednesday.

Police Sergeant Steve Westhead, said at the scene that the police could not say if the men had been in the car when it hit the water.

He said: “We got a call about 7am from a member of the public to a vehicle in the water.

“We conducted an area search for the males but we did not find them. Our primary concern was to check if anyone was in the vehicle as it was high tide. The coastguards and Dorset Fire and Rescue Service assisted us in searching and confirming there were no people in the vehicle.”

He added: “We have seized a number of items from the vehicle that are being examined. We have seized a gun cabinet and some discarded gun casings that have not been fired.”

Coastguards searched along the Fleet and Chesil Beach yesterday morning and the search and rescue helicopter flew low over the Fleet looking for the fugitives. Weymouth sector manager Rob Sansom said: “We searched to Ferrybridge and along the shoreline.”

Police were assisted by the Army’s Royal Engineers in removing the vehicle from the Fleet yesterday afternoon.

The team had to wait for a lull between the high and low spring tides to remove the Land Rover which was recovered by 4pm.

Comments(21)

Doughbun1958 says...
12:11pm Thu 9 Sep 10

The armed response unit was joined by firefighters, coastguards, forensic science officers and the search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to search the area near the Wyke Regis Army Camp on Camp Road, Weymouth, yesterday morning.And they still got away? No wonder our local Pold have not ha much luck catcing the Portland Bois

Sidney Hall says...
12:24pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Pity they didnt use the Landrover to take out the bollards in Gypsy Lane before dumping it....couldve won the hearts of locals as loveable rogues....

JANEAUSTEN says...
12:34pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Why would you need shotguns living in Chapelhay?

snowleopard says...
12:34pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Chas would've got them!
Anyway on Wessex it says they have been caught

dorwey says...
12:38pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Doughbun1958 wrote:
The armed response unit was joined by firefighters, coastguards, forensic science officers and the search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to search the area near the Wyke Regis Army Camp on Camp Road, Weymouth, yesterday morning.And they still got away? No wonder our local Pold have not ha much luck catcing the Portland Bois
The vehicle was seen going down that road at 00.15, the Police were not called until 07.00, so yes, it is unlikely the police would catch them (yet), it really is best that you actually read the story before making failed sarcastic comments.

Tru belle says...
12:47pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Shotguns?

Are these the same swine who are poaching murderously , and leaving entrails and body parts of deer on parts of the heath?

I knew this gun amnesty was a farce, Dorset is full of law breakers and nastiness and cruelty, the area just isn't civilized.

JANEAUSTEN says...
1:16pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Tru belle wrote:
Shotguns?

Are these the same swine who are poaching murderously , and leaving entrails and body parts of deer on parts of the heath?

I knew this gun amnesty was a farce, Dorset is full of law breakers and nastiness and cruelty, the area just isn't civilized.
Yes, Trubelle. I'm afraid there are lots of unlicensed shotguns in the area.
In case you're not aware,
Chapelhay is a very built-up area.
So, why would someone living there need shotguns? Illegal deer-poaching is on the increase,
really disheartening to realise how many human beings enjoy killing helpless animals - and I include fox-hunting in that. So, can we assume that if this person had a licence, he was clay-pigeon shooting?
Or was he keeping the guns there to defend himself (God forbid) if someone broke in.

portlandboy says...
2:24pm Thu 9 Sep 10

JANEAUSTEN wrote:
Why would you need shotguns living in Chapelhay?
Hmmm? That's a difficult one, after all there aren't any drug users, pushers, thieves or other mindless criminals around that area are there...?
Some of the properties convieniently look into the council offices too, don't they?
How many more reasons would you need to own a shotgun in Chapelhay?

Equilibrium says...
2:25pm Thu 9 Sep 10

JANEAUSTEN wrote:
Tru belle wrote: Shotguns? Are these the same swine who are poaching murderously , and leaving entrails and body parts of deer on parts of the heath? I knew this gun amnesty was a farce, Dorset is full of law breakers and nastiness and cruelty, the area just isn't civilized.
Yes, Trubelle. I'm afraid there are lots of unlicensed shotguns in the area. In case you're not aware, Chapelhay is a very built-up area. So, why would someone living there need shotguns? Illegal deer-poaching is on the increase, really disheartening to realise how many human beings enjoy killing helpless animals - and I include fox-hunting in that. So, can we assume that if this person had a licence, he was clay-pigeon shooting? Or was he keeping the guns there to defend himself (God forbid) if someone broke in.
Perhaps the gun owner shoots legally in areas that are properly licenced and governed, but does not happen to live in that area...

There is nothing wrong with owning guns if you have them properly secured and licensed, have a genuine, legal reason to require them and use them responsibly.

Where you live does not really come into the equation.

Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with shooting pheasants/deer or other game meat as long as it is legally done and the animal is not wasted. The vast majority of us eat meat and know somebody had to kill, bleed and chop up that poor little lamb before it landed on our dinner plate as if it had grown on the magic meat tree!
That said, needless killing of animals just for the 'sport' such as the fox issue is a real throw back to the dark ages. How anybody can call that civilised and justify it with the 'it's tradition' excuse needs to get a grip.

Doughbun1958 says...
4:05pm Thu 9 Sep 10

dorwey wrote:
Doughbun1958 wrote:
The armed response unit was joined by firefighters, coastguards, forensic science officers and the search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to search the area near the Wyke Regis Army Camp on Camp Road, Weymouth, yesterday morning.And they still got away? No wonder our local Pold have not ha much luck catcing the Portland Bois
The vehicle was seen going down that road at 00.15, the Police were not called until 07.00, so yes, it is unlikely the police would catch them (yet), it really is best that you actually read the story before making failed sarcastic comments.
and if all you have got to do is sit on your lardy arse and critcise me thn you really are a saddo

nigefromdorchester says...
6:07pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Why was a Search and Rescue helicopter tasked to launch and look for this gang? Who paid for that? Why wasn't the Police helicopter used?

EXLOCAL1 says...
7:19pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Equilibrium wrote:
JANEAUSTEN wrote:
Tru belle wrote: Shotguns? Are these the same swine who are poaching murderously , and leaving entrails and body parts of deer on parts of the heath? I knew this gun amnesty was a farce, Dorset is full of law breakers and nastiness and cruelty, the area just isn't civilized.
Yes, Trubelle. I'm afraid there are lots of unlicensed shotguns in the area. In case you're not aware, Chapelhay is a very built-up area. So, why would someone living there need shotguns? Illegal deer-poaching is on the increase, really disheartening to realise how many human beings enjoy killing helpless animals - and I include fox-hunting in that. So, can we assume that if this person had a licence, he was clay-pigeon shooting? Or was he keeping the guns there to defend himself (God forbid) if someone broke in.
Perhaps the gun owner shoots legally in areas that are properly licenced and governed, but does not happen to live in that area... There is nothing wrong with owning guns if you have them properly secured and licensed, have a genuine, legal reason to require them and use them responsibly. Where you live does not really come into the equation. Furthermore, there is nothing wrong with shooting pheasants/deer or other game meat as long as it is legally done and the animal is not wasted. The vast majority of us eat meat and know somebody had to kill, bleed and chop up that poor little lamb before it landed on our dinner plate as if it had grown on the magic meat tree! That said, needless killing of animals just for the 'sport' such as the fox issue is a real throw back to the dark ages. How anybody can call that civilised and justify it with the 'it's tradition' excuse needs to get a grip.
Equilibrium is right the person who owns these guns does legally shoot in areas around and outside Weymouth, but chooses to live around the harbour as this is another place he enjoys.
And yes he does eat what he kills so what is wrong with that, not everyone chooses to go to asda for there cling wrapped meat or fish.

Tru belle says...
8:24pm Thu 9 Sep 10

If this person had a gun licence, he would also have been required to have a gun safe, guns locked away , nice and securely?

Who would have known these guns were where they were, other than the owner. Funneeee peculiar, hmm

X Old Bill says...
8:45pm Thu 9 Sep 10

Tru belle wrote:
If this person had a gun licence, he would also have been required to have a gun safe, guns locked away , nice and securely?

Who would have known these guns were where they were, other than the owner. Funneeee peculiar, hmm
Read the report again - Quote:“We have seized a number of items from the vehicle that are being examined. We have seized a gun cabinet and some discarded gun casings that have not been fired.”
The gun cabinet, or gun safe, call it what you will, would have been examined by the Police Officer who visited the premises to see where the guns and ammunition were being safely stored.
Rather than break it open the thieves seem to have un-shipped the entire box and taken it all (lock, stock and barrel even!).
When one is Lawfully using a Legally held shotgun in open ground there is nothing to stop anyone seeing what you are using, noting who you are, your vehicle registration etc. One even has to carry the guns indoors, in a secured gun case of course, and there again anyone can see what you have and where you are going.
.
On the subject of Helicopter use I would suggest that the SaR Helo is a lot nearer and a lot more use if it was suspected that someone was in the water.

portlandboy says...
10:17am Fri 10 Sep 10

X Old Bill...
"On the subject of Helicopter use I would suggest that the SaR Helo is a lot nearer and a lot more use if it was suspected that someone was in the water."

Well lets hope that, since the Dorset Police find it so useful, they put their FULL weight and rescourses behind any campaign to save the SAR helicopter when the government try to remove it from service. They have been silent in the past.

X Old Bill says...
2:27pm Fri 10 Sep 10

portlandboy wrote:
X Old Bill...
"On the subject of Helicopter use I would suggest that the SaR Helo is a lot nearer and a lot more use if it was suspected that someone was in the water."

Well lets hope that, since the Dorset Police find it so useful, they put their FULL weight and rescourses behind any campaign to save the SAR helicopter when the government try to remove it from service. They have been silent in the past.
I totally agree with you on that one.
Maybe DorPol are more worried about trying to keep and justify their own aircraft, rather than share it, as is happening elsewhere.
I have even seen them 'overlap' with the Air Ambulance by using Oscar99 for a casevac to Poole Hospital.

Hemlock Sholmes says...
12:56pm Sat 11 Sep 10

Doughbun1958 wrote:
dorwey wrote:
Doughbun1958 wrote: The armed response unit was joined by firefighters, coastguards, forensic science officers and the search and rescue helicopter was scrambled to search the area near the Wyke Regis Army Camp on Camp Road, Weymouth, yesterday morning.And they still got away? No wonder our local Pold have not ha much luck catcing the Portland Bois
The vehicle was seen going down that road at 00.15, the Police were not called until 07.00, so yes, it is unlikely the police would catch them (yet), it really is best that you actually read the story before making failed sarcastic comments.
and if all you have got to do is sit on your lardy arse and critcise me thn you really are a saddo
Yet, you sit on yours and criticise others! How easy it must be down there :) I take it you have now commented on how well the "local plod" have done in arresting 3 people for this matter, as reported here elsewhere?

bretthehe says...
12:55pm Wed 15 Sep 10

Tru belle wrote:
If this person had a gun licence, he would also have been required to have a gun safe, guns locked away , nice and securely? Who would have known these guns were where they were, other than the owner. Funneeee peculiar, hmm
maybe they wanted to shoot ducks

Paulstrong says...
9:50am Sun 19 Sep 10

Another story that shows licensing this gun does not work. Domestic homes are not a secure enough environment for these deadly weapons. We are so luck these were intercepted before the licensing system was responsible for more guns ending up in the criminal world to kill. Bit the bullet - Ban Guns!!

peaceful_activist says...
5:39pm Sun 19 Sep 10

It is frightening that guns are so easily available to the general public. Licensed or not, they should be prohibited for the safety of everyone. A licence doesn't mean it will be used responsibly (if there is such a thing), does not mean there won't be accidents, and like in this case, does not mean it won't fall into the hands of those who want to use it for other purposes.
I agree that shooting an animal to eat is no different than buying one somebody killed for you from the supermarket. But that doesn't make it right or morally justified.
Eating meat/dairy is the same as shooting or fox hunting as it is all killing for pleasure. We don't need to consume meat/dairy at all-In fact all scientific evidence proves that we are actually healthier without it, and the UN are urging people to give it up (as meat/dairy production is the biggest cause of greenhouse gas and water use). The only reason anyone eats it is because they enjoy to do so-which is killing for pleasure and nothing more-So really is that any different from shooting/fox hunting? Now I must point out that I am absolutely 100% against fox hunting and believe it should remain banned; but like the person who enjoys shooting pointed out the hypocrisy in being against shooting but still eating meat-I point out the hypocrisy in being against fox hunting/shooting or any other form of animal cruelty or violence, and yet still participating daily in the biggest animal exploitation industry there is. Its morally schizophrenic to be for one and be against another; just as it is morally schizophrenic to love your dog/cat but then subject any other animal-who is sentient and suffers in exactly the same way-to horrible torture and death. Nobody has to do it for any reason. You all have a choice not to inflict suffering or kill another living being-So why do it? We have knowledge and awareness which empowers us with choice. In our sentience and our suffering, we are all equal. If you wouldn't do it to a child, don't do it to an animal.

portlandboy says...
2:21pm Mon 20 Sep 10

Peaceful_activist...

"So why do it? We have knowledge and awareness which empowers us with choice."

I think you've just answered your own question - we have choice, empowered by knowledge. Personally, I find that a nice plump hare holds the pie crust up a lot better than veg does.


The stolen Land Rover Freelander being recovered from The Fleet The stolen Land Rover Freelander being recovered from The Fleet

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