Theft of legal guns is now the main source of illegal guns in Australia, yet public information on the topic is scarce. This report compiles new data from state law enforcement agencies and other sources to find that over 9,000 firearms have been stolen since the start of 2020. 

In addition to reducing the number of firearms, this report demonstrates a need for further research into gun theft. Restoring funding for federal research into firearm theft and proceeding rapidly with the creation of a National Firearms Register, would also greatly enhance public and police understanding of the threat that stolen firearms represent. 

Key findings

• At least 9,287 firearms have been stolen in Australia since 2020.
• At least 44,600 have been stolen over the past 20 years – one every four hours.
• It is unclear how many stolen guns are recovered by police nation-wide. The available data on recovery indicates that three-quarters were not recovered.
• In Queensland and Tasmania, the two jurisdictions where data is available on the number of firearms stolen per individual incident of theft, it has been growing since 2018.
• Firearm theft is currently the primary way that the number of illicit firearms in Australia grows.