Gun-shaped cologne bottle leads to AOS call-out

Police were called to the St Martins shops after a concerned member of the public reported a man carrying a handgun about 3.15pm. Photo / File

A cologne bottle shaped like a handgun sparked an armed police call-out at a Christchurch supermarket today.

Police were called to the St Martins shops after a concerned member of the public reported a man carrying a handgun about 3.15pm.

Armed police cordoned off the area and caught the man as he was leaving the New World supermarket.

Officers then discovered the man was holding a cologne bottle that was shaped like a handgun, with a black barrel and brown handle.

A 28-year-old man was arrested and received a formal warning from police.

Senior Sergeant Vaughn Lapslie sounded a warning over the incident.

"Police would like to take this opportunity to remind people that toy guns and products that are made to look like real firearms, when carried in public and handled carelessly, cause a lot of concern in the community and get treated seriously by police."