“Feral Urchins” Are Stealing Shotguns In England

There have been a rash of burglaries in the countryside surrounding the English city of Liverpool. The thieves have been targeting farmers and wealthy landowners for their legally-owned shotguns. According to Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Richardson (no relation), shotguns are the weapon of choice of these, in his words, “feral urchins” for settling disputes.

Shotguns were responsible for two of the city’s most high-profile murders – the Eldonian Village killing of 16-year-old Lewis Dunne and the fatal attack on Vinny Waddington, in Garston, last July.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richardson told the ECHO: “I’m not convinced these kids are totally aware of the capacity of that firearm{shotgun}.

“They see it as some sort of air weapon, but it is a lethally-barrelled firearm that has the capacity to kill.

“These urchins are using these weapons oblivious to the consequences, going round with weapons with the idea to resolve disputes by discharging it through windows.”

The UK requires shotgun owners to keep their legally-owned shotguns secured in locked cabinets which can be inspected by police at any time.

Shotguns have been used in about half the shootings in the Merseyside (Liverpool) area in the past 12 months. The other most common firearm is the 9mm Glock pistol which has been banned from possession by the average Briton for years.

The Merseyside police have given no information where the “feral urchins” are obtaining Glock pistols.