A realistic replica shotgun was found outside an abandoned tent in Stadacona Park this week.
VicPD found the prohibited shotgun in the park on Saturday, October 8th and are now looking for answers as to who it belongs to.
According to police, the Community Services Division (CSD) were working with City of Victoria Bylaw staff conducting outreach and enforcement in Stadacona Park when they located an abandoned tent.
Police say they looked inside, and found what they thought to be a sawed-off shotgun.
Officers are looking for information after we seized a realistic replica sawed off-shotgun from an abandoned tent in Stadacona Park Oct. 8th. If you have info, call (250) 995-7654 extension 1 or @VicCrimeStop at 1-800-222-8477. #yyj | https://t.co/7ELNGvaRfO pic.twitter.com/CsdeAtHcFl
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) October 13, 2022
The weapon was seized by officers from the tent and taken to VicPD headquarters to determine if the firearm was real or a replica.
Replica firearms are weapons that are made to look exactly like the real thing, but they do not shoot any ammunition.
Following examination, VicPD say they confirmed the item to be a realistic replica which regardless, are still prohibited in Canada.
Currently, police say no one in the park has claimed ownership of the weapon or the tent it was found in.
If you have information about this incident and have not spoken to officers, call VicPD at (250) 995-7654.
To report what you know anonymously, call Greater Victoria CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.