Police Seize Dangerous Weapons Cache in St Helens Property Raid
Merseyside Police have uncovered a significant haul of dangerous weapons including zombie knives, crossbows, air rifles and BB guns during a targeted raid on a property in St Helens. The operation followed reports of stolen building materials being transported to the address.
Weapons Discovery Follows Stolen Goods Investigation
Police initially received intelligence that building materials had been delivered to an address in Rainford without payment before being moved by van to another location on Friday afternoon. Officers tracked the stolen materials to a nearby property and conducted a thorough search of the premises.
During their search, police discovered what they described as a "significant cache" of dangerous weapons. The haul included multiple zombie knives, several crossbows, air rifles and BB guns - all of which were seized by officers as part of their ongoing investigation.
Two Men Arrested and Remain in Custody
Two local men, aged 41 and 27 from St Helens, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of multiple offences including:
- Firearms possession
- Handling stolen goods
- Theft of building materials
Both men remain in police custody for questioning as officers continue their investigation into the incident. Police maintained a cordon around the property on Siding Lane throughout Saturday morning while conducting further searches.
Police Vow to Remove Weapons from Streets
Detective Inspector James Rotheram emphasised the importance of removing such weapons from circulation, stating: "Thankfully this haul of weapons has been removed from our streets which prevents them from doing serious harm in our communities."
He added: "We are determined to rid the streets of weapons which are used to create fear and intimidate their victims. They do not care about the fear and devastation their actions can wreak on our communities and they have no place here in Merseyside."
The detective inspector confirmed that police would continue conducting warrants, stop checks and searches in areas where intelligence suggests offenders operate, urging the public to continue providing information to assist their efforts.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Appeal
Police continue to search the property while maintaining their cordon as the investigation progresses. Local residents reported a significant police presence throughout the day on Siding Lane, with officers conducting thorough examinations of the premises.
Detective Inspector Rotheram made a direct appeal to the public: "Although we have made two arrests, we would appeal to anyone who has information which will assist the investigation to please contact us."
The investigation remains active with police following multiple lines of enquiry related to both the stolen building materials and the discovered weapons cache.
