More than $134,000 worth of historic firearms were stolen from the Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum, forcing the Australian museum to close indefinitely.
According to a Facebook statement, the robbery on August 25 caused “immeasurable damage” and the museum will remain closed until they address significant challenges.
Police informed ABC News Australia that three individuals in balaclavas stole 27 handguns and fled in a silver Toyota Land Cruiser, which was later found burned out in Bathurst. The stolen firearms included pieces from the 1860s, World War I, and World War II, such as a P-38 Walther Luxus used by the Nazis.
John Watson, the local Drug and Firearms Squad Commander Detective Superintendent, told ABC that there are worries the stolen firearms might be made operational.
“Stolen firearms are a common currency within organized crime networks, which is why we are asking the community to help us find these firearms and identify those involved in their theft,” he said.
The Lithgow Small Arms Factory Museum is a community-owned museum located on the old factory site. In addition to its display of machine guns, rifles, and handguns, many of which were manufactured at the factory, the museum also features non-military items produced at the site, as well as photographs and memorabilia related to Lithgow’s history.
