Police have failed to find a gun after they swooped on the southside Rebels clubhouse in an early morning raid linked to the shooting of a non-affiliated Gungahlin tattoo parlour last week.
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Criminal investigations detectives, supported by ACT Policing's elite tactical response team, conducted two simultaneous raids about 6am, one at the Rebels Wanniassa clubhouse on Sternberg Crescent, and one at a home on Hardwick Place in Kambah.
No arrests were made, and the aim of the raids was to secure a handgun used in the shooting. However a police statement on Friday afternoon confirmed no gun was found during the raids.
Police said they did seize a number of items from the two properties, and would continue with enquiries.
Rebels affiliates drove past the scene during the morning raids, taking photos of police and media as the search was conducted. The raid comes less than two weeks after the shooting at the Tatts On Tatts Off tattoo parlour on Anthony Rolfe Avenue in Gungahlin.
The breakthrough was partly helped by a decision on Thursday by police to go public with their search for a dark coloured ute thought to be connected with the shooting.
A dark blue ute was found at the Wanniassa clubhouse on Friday morning, which police say will undergo further testing. The raids are the first concrete sign from police that they suspect Rebels to be involved in shooting four bullets through the parlour's window sometime on Monday night or Tuesday morning last week, causing what the owner estimates as between $7000 and $8000 damage.
No one was inside at the time, and the parlour was able to reopen the next day.
The owner - a 20-year Navy veteran who has asked not to be named - claims the tattoo parlour is the only non-bikie affiliated business of its kind in the ACT.
Tatts On Tatts Off actively promotes its non-affiliation online, and the owner was quick to suggest that may have been a factor in the shooting.
His suspicions appeared to be confirmed on Friday morning.
‘‘Last week we went out to call for information from Crime Stoppers and we received some strong support from the community,’’ Detective Seregant Matthew Gale said.
“A further call out went out yesterday in relation to a suspicious vehicle that was seen at the scene of the shooting, and as a result of that information we are here executing the search warrant today,’’ he said.
Police praised members of the public for their help after the shooting.
Rebels members were cooperative with the search, police say.
‘‘It’s a methodical search so we’ll be here for most of the day,’’ Detective Sergeant Gale said. He said inquiries were still ongoing, and it is unclear whether any arrest could be made in the near future.
The attack prompted calls for tougher licensing requirements for tattoo parlours in the ACT, similar to those enforced in NSW, where motorcycle club members are barred from owning, operating or financing such businesses.
The government said it would look at issues around licensing, but noted the ACT has escaped the severity of organised crime seen in other states.
Detective Sergeant Gale said the public should not be alarmed about the attack.
‘‘This is a singular incident ... any incident that’s reported to us, regardless of any allegiance and affiliations with groups or clubs, will be taken seriously and investigated as we have done today,’’ he said. Police have called on anyone with further information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.