Stolen gun sparks callout to armed police near Porirua school

The man was arrested at a house on Awarua St, near Mana College. Photo / Google

Police are reminding gun owners how important it is to make sure firearms are kept secure after armed police caught a Porirua man with a stolen gun.

A member of the public called police after spotting the 20-year-old walking down the street with what looked to be a gun case, area prevention manager Senior Sergeant Grant Ferguson said.

The man was spotted walking into a house on Awarua Street near Mana College about lunchtime on Friday last week.

Armed police headed to the scene and arrested the man without incident. He was charged with burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm.

The school was not put on lockdown at the time, and Ferguson said that was an "oversight".

"I think it was probably an oversight at the time with everything happening so quickly," he said, adding that police would learn from the mistake.

"[We] need to be more conscious of that in the future where large groups of people, particularly young people, are at risk."

Ferguson didn't know how the gun was stolen, but said people could sometimes be "careless or irresponsible" with how they secured their firearms, although "despite the best security, some of our villains are determined and will find a way to break the firearms out of their cabinets".

"I think it's a topical subject at the moment because of what the United States are experiencing.

"Firearms in the wrong hands are lethal weapons and we need to make sure that the privilege of having a firearm is [taken] seriously are all precautions are taken to prevent them falling into the hands of the wrong people."

The man has gang links and faces charges on other matters, Ferguson said.

There is no indication what the gun was being taken for.

The man has been remanded in custody until a court appearance next month.