Man tied up, house burnt down as thieves allegedly steal 9 guns, car

Sat 11 Jul 2026 at 1:13pm

Sat 11 Jul 2026 at 1:13pm

In short:

Police say a man has been tied up with cable ties in an early morning burglary on Tasmania's east coast.

Police said nine firearms and a car were stolen from the home, which was then set on fire.

What's next?

Police said they believed the incident was targeted, and their investigations are ongoing.

Tasmania Police are investigating an early morning burglary on Tasmania's east coast, which involved a man being tied up with cable ties, his firearms and car allegedly stolen and his home destroyed by fire.

Police said emergency services were called to a house fire at Coles Bay about 7am on Saturday.

They found the owner of the house had been tied up with cable ties and dragged outside by the offenders.

Initial police investigations suggested that two men wearing face coverings and armed with crowbars, entered the home at 5am.

They allegedly assaulted the man and demanded access to a firearms safe, allegedly stealing nine firearms, cash and his car.

Police said they then set the house on fire, before fleeing the scene.

The man was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Detective Inspector David Gill said anyone with information should contact police, especially if they have seen the victim's allegedly stolen car: a white 1998 Toyota Hilux single cab with a red Hiab crane, three spotlights and a light bar.

"Although we are in the early stages of the investigation, police believe this incident is targeted," Detective Inspector Gill said.