Under fire

By Allister Hayman
POLICE are appealing for people who came under fire from a homemade bazooka in Pakenham to come forward.
The call comes after reports of youths using the weapon last Thursday to fire oranges, tennis balls and other projectiles at houses, cars and people.
Often considered harmless toys, so-called orange guns are made from PVC piping and use an aerosol propellant to fire fruit, vegetables and other objects with such force that police say they are able to cause considerable damage and serious injury.
Senior Sergeant Russell Patten of Pakenham Police said investigators are taking the incidents, which occurred in the Blue Horizon and Heritage Springs estates last week, extremely seriously and are appealing for anyone affected to come forward.
“They were firing at windows and at people and at least one person was struck,” Sen Sgt Patten said.
“Police received numerous complaints on the night until apprehensions were made.
“It’s an absolutely ridiculous thing to do with great potential to cause harm, especially if a person was behind a window or struck in the face.”
Sen Sgt Patten said the youths were also at great risk as the PVC piping becomes work-hardened and brittle after repeated usage and as a result the makeshift guns could explode.
“These orange guns are actually firearms, so to use them is to commit a firearms offence,” he said.
According to the Victoria Police, the bazookas are classified as category E firearms – the most restricted category – and a person caught in possession of such a gun without a licence could face a maximum fine of $60,000 or a jail term of seven years for a first offence.
Victoria Police spokesman Andrew Mitcham said that while it was theoretically possible for the orange guns to be licensed, it was unlikely.
“To get a licence you would have to provide a genuine reason.
“They’re classified as long arms so it would have to be something like sporting use or clay target shooting and you’re going to have a tough job convincing someone that you need an orange gun for clay target shooting,” he said.
The Pakenham bazooka attacks came a week after a trio of youths received a reprimand from the Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court after using a similar weapon to fire oranges at a colony of protected bats at Yarra Bend Park.
• Three youths are due to be charged via summons with firearms offences and two youths have been cautioned.