Street gangs are using the gardens of innocent people as firearms dumps say police after eight guns were recovered by residents in the last six months.
In one case, a stunned Toxteth resident found a loaded gun behind their garden shed, while three sawn-off shotguns, three revolvers, and ammunition and magazines were also found in gardens around Croxteth, West Derby, Vauxhall, Speke and Thornton.
In one case, a resident discovered a 'pen gun', a single-shot pistol designed to look like an ink pen at first glance. Merseyside Police have since examined the weapons and found two were stolen in house burglaries several years ago.
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Detective Inspector John Mullen, from the Firearms Investigation Team said: “We are very thankful to those residents who spotted the firearms and contacted us to remove them safely. It means these weapons cannot be used to cause fear and intimidation in our communities. Every weapon taken off our streets can save a life or prevent serious injury.
"We understand that shootings in Merseyside in recent weeks will be concerning for residents, but Merseyside Police would like to reassure everyone that every single day our officers are doing proactive work to remove guns and other potentially lethal weapons from our streets.
“As a result of this continuous proactive police work, the number of shootings in Merseyside has decreased year-on-year since 2019. In addition, 92 weapons were handed in to Merseyside Police during a firearms surrender in May. The haul included 36 working firearms and more than 800 live rounds of ammunition."
Det Insp Mullen added: “We are fully aware of the devastating impact gun crime has on families of victims and the fear that it evokes in our communities. Understandably the recent incidents may cause alarm to people, but please be assured that the number of shootings in Merseyside remains at its lowest for 21 years. The number of shootings has decreased by 66% from 125 incidents in 2012 to 43 last year."
This month alone two men were wounded in separate shootings. One 23-year-old man was shot multiple times in the legs at almost point blank range on July 2, in Croxdale Road West, West Derby, while another victim was targeted on Cubert Road, Croxteth, on July 11 and also hit in the legs.
Back in May, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen, head of investigations at Merseyside Police, told the ECHO that criminal gangs had taken to using the properties of innocent people to hide weapons. He said: "We're getting a lot of [firearms] recovery from gardens, people's gardens or sheds. We often find that vulnerable people, their gardens are getting used to store firearms. Just for me, there is theme there. Spring is coming, have a look.
"It sounds ridiculous but that is what we get a lot of; people phoning up and going 'I have just been down to my garden behind my shed and suddenly there's a plastic bag there I do not recognise'."
DCS Kameen said gangs appeared to have graduated from stashing weapons in parks or other public places. He said: "I think OCG's are getting quite wise to that tactic. Back in the day they would store firearms in their own houses, and then it would be other people's houses, associates and such like, and then we moved to open land because they thought it anonymised ownership.
"We're still seeing that, but what we're also seeing now is a variation on it with cuckooing and preying on the vulnerable and elderly."
The force says properties that back onto open land such as parks are a particular target, or gardens where there is potentially quick access to an alleyway. Det. Insp. Mullen urged Merseyside residents to "check around plant pots, under garden sheds and places where weapons could be hidden away".
Anyone with information about who is using or storing weapons in their area is asked to DM @MerPolCC, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.
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