Inspector Frank Brown is urging farmers to make sure their properties are secure.

“Don’t leave keys in cars and make sure fuel pumps are locked,” he said.

“If there are firearms on the property, make sure they are secured in a gun safe at all times when they’re not being used.”

Inspector Brown is urging residents to take gun safety particularly seriously.

“I understand firearms need to be used as a tool and it can be a bit of a nuisance to go to the gun safe, open it, get the firearm out, use, go back to the gun safe and put it back, but the point is that this is the law.

“All gun owners have to bide by the law. It’s done to keep people safe.”

Inspector Brown said leaving firearms unsecured created an easy opportunity for theft, allowing guns to fall into “the wrong hands”.

“There are serious penalties for not correctly securing a firearm,” he said.