A Streetwise 900KV stun gun, similar to cattle prods used in freezing works.
A Streetwise 900KV stun gun, similar to cattle prods used in freezing works.
KEY POINTS:
A man found with an illegal stun gun told police he needed it because "bad things happened in South Auckland".
Police found the stun gun, a Streetwise 900KV model, in a pocket of the driver's door during a routine traffic stop in Hamilton.
The 35-year-old man drew theattention of police when he failed to stop at a stop sign on Saturday night.
Officers also found a projector in the car that was stolen from Aberdeen School on August 27.
Waikato police spokesman Andrew McAlley said stun guns would have to be brought into the country illegally.
"These are very similar to the cattle prods used at the freezing works. They don't fire out electrodes; however, they are extremely painful if one is to come into contact with them."
If the guns were used on humans, possible health risks included heart complications, Mr McAlley said.
When questioned by police, the man, who lives in Queen St, Auckland, said he needed it because "bad things happened in South Auckland".
He was charged with possession of a restricted weapon and burglary charges.
The stun gun was not a Taser like the ones some New Zealand police districts have been testing.
The stun gun was the second to be seized by police this month; the other was taken during a search of a large-scale cannabis cultivation operation in downtown Hamilton.
New Zealand Customs has made 67 stun-gun seizures since 2004.
Mr McAlley said police were concerned that people were arming themselves with stun guns, but were more worried about other firearms falling into criminal hands.
He mentioned especially the 110-plus restricted weapons reported stolen from a gun collector at Hot Water Beach, Coromandel, in July.
