BENDIGO Police are calling on the community to provide information about illegal firearms as part of a state-wide campaign called "Operation Unification".
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The campaign began on Monday and will run until June 29.
Acting Inspector Troy Hargadon said Operation Unification was about getting illegal firearms off the streets.
"It’s a call to the community to assist police with information that they may have relating to people or locations where illegal firearms may be stored," Acting Inspector Hargadon said.
"We have certainly had a number of incidents in the region where firearms have been stolen from rural or isolated premises and the concern is where do these firearms end up?"
He said there were many illegal weapons being held across Victoria.
He said there had been an increase of thefts of firearms in Bendigo and the surrounding region in recent months.
He said guns had the potential to hurt the community.
"Gun crime equals hard crime and has many impacts on the well being of victims and on friends and family and the wider community," he said.
Acting Inspector Hargadon said the internet had made sourcing illegal firearms easier for criminals.
He said anyone with information about an illegal firearm should call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
