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Police are searching for a gun stolen from an unmarked police car during an aggravated burglary at the home of an off-duty officer in Melbourne\u2019s south-eastern suburbs.<\/p>\n
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Images of a gun are being circulated on encrypted messaging apps used by underworld figures.<\/span><\/p>\n The vehicle was stolen from the property about 5.30am Tuesday and found dumped several suburbs away five hours later.<\/p>\n Images of a gloved hand holding a loaded magazine next to a gun were circulated on encrypted chats used by organised crime figures following the theft. The Age<\/em> is unable to verify if the image is of the stolen police firearm.<\/p>\n An underworld source speaking on the condition of anonymity said <\/em>the firearm was being offered for sale on the black market for $30,000.<\/p>\n The price of illicit guns has ballooned as they become harder to find as a result of the enforcement of firearm prohibition orders. A police spokeswoman said several items of police equipment were stolen during the incident, including the stored gun.<\/p>\n \u201cThis firearm is yet to be recovered, and a significant investigation is under way to try and locate it,\u201d the spokeswoman said. The thieves also stole a number of other items from the home. No one was physically injured during the incident.<\/p>\n \u201cThe exact circumstances surrounding the aggravated burglary are still being determined and police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers,\u201d she said. However, investigators do not believe the off-duty officer was specifically targeted by the burglars.<\/p>\n