A man has been charged and replica firearms seized after five people were arrested at a Chatswood shopping centre overnight.
Officers from North Shore Police Area Command were called to a shopping centre on Spring Street, Chatswood, about 6.30pm (Wednesday 16 January 2019), responding to reports a group of youths were in the food court armed with firearms.
Acting on information provided by shoppers and business owners, an 18-year-old man and four youths, aged 17, were arrested outside a Chatswood supermarket about 6.40pm.
Five toy guns, some which had been modified, were seized. They will be forensically examined.
Three youths were taken to Chatswood Police Station, and two were taken to North Sydney Police Station.
The man, from Carlton, has now been charged with offensive behaviour in a public place. He was granted bail to appear in Hornsby Local Court on Wednesday 27 February 2019.
The four youths will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act
North Shore Police Area Command Duty Officer, Acting Inspector Sean Donnelly said when responding to incidents such as these, police must treat them seriously.
"Whilst the toy guns were not pointed at any members of the public and no one was physically injured, a number of witnesses were understandably distressed by the incident.
"Police must treat any reports of firearms as genuine and respond appropriately. This kind of behaviour in a public place is reckless and could have serious consequences," Acting Inspector Donnelly said.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
