Two men have been arrested and charged with aggravated armed robbery following investigations into an incident at Upper Natone in which police allege several guns were stolen.
The two men, aged 28 and 38, remain in custody while a third man questioned in relation to the incident last Friday morning (August 15) has been bailed to reappear in court in late November.
Police allege a resident was threatened and several firearms, plus a car, were stolen from a semi-rural property at Upper Natone, in the state's North-West.
A number of searches were conducted in the Burnie and Penguin areas on August 18 and 19, with the joint operation involving Tasmania Police uniformed officers, detectives, members of the drugs and firearms unit and specialist resources.
The searches resulted in the arrest of three men and the recovery of all the firearms, as well as other allegedly stolen firearms and ammunition that were not related to the Upper Natone incident.
A 28-year-old Smithton man has since been charged with a number of offences, including aggravated armed robbery, aggravated burglary and motor vehicle stealing. He appeared in an out of hours court and has been remanded in custody to next appear via video link on August 26.
A 38-year-old Burnie man has been charged with a number of offences, including aggravated armed robbery, aggravated burglary and motor vehicle stealing. He appeared in and out of hours court and has been remanded in custody to next appear via video link on August 27.
A 28-year-old Burnie man has been charged with receiving stolen property and bailed to next appear in Burnie Magistrates Court on November 25.
Investigations are continuing into the incident.
Tasmania Police would like to thank members of the public for their patience and assistance to date and urge that anyone with information can contact police on 131 444.
Information can also be reported anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or online at www.crimestopperstas.com.au
CAPTION: Firearms seized during searches of properties in the North-West on August 18 and 19. (Picture: Tasmania Police)
