POLICE are stepping up patrols across Warwickshire following three gun incidents in less than a week.
Reports of gunshots in Southam on Sunday (December 3) were followed the next day by an incident in Stratford which left a teenager with a bullet wound to his leg.
And in Rugby a 29-year-old man has been charged and remanded in custody following gunshots at a property in Oxford Street, the previous Wednesday morning (November 29).
The incident in Stratford happened at a home on Brookside Road – off the Alcester Road – where a 17-year-old was rushed to hospital with a leg wound in the early hours of Monday morning (December 4). His injury was not believed to be life threatening.
And in Southam, a person at a house in Kestrel Row, as well as concerned neighbours, called police after hearing gunfire.
No one was injured but there was damage to a door believed to have been caused by a gunshot.
Forensic tests are being carried out at the scenes of the shootings in Southam and Stratford.
Glenroy Blackstock, of Newland Street, Rugby, has been charged with possessing a gun and a number of drug-related charges. He appeared before magistrates in Leamington at the weekend, and was remanded in custody to appear at Warwick Crown Court on January 4.
While police are not linking the three incidents, patrols have been increased to reassure residents.
Det Insp Tim Sharp said: “I understand the community will be extremely concerned by this and we are working tirelessly to work through evidence, we have increased our patrols to reassure the local community and anyone with any concerns is asked to approach officers.”
The reports follow a recent firearms amnesty across Warwickshire.
Over 70 guns were handed in at local police stations during the two week campaign, with 45 handed over in Leamington and 18 in Rugby, along with 32 lots of ammunition.
The guns were made safe, and most will be cut up and melted down.
Anyone with information in connection to the above incidents, should call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
