THE owner of a haul of realistic replica firearms stolen from a storage unit in Christchurch says he is afraid they could fall “into the wrong hands”.

Airsoft assault rifles, sub-machine guns, a deactivated rocket launcher, smoke grenades and plastic ‘ammunition’ were stolen from Contact Front’s site in Wattons Lane, Matchams last week.

Director of operations Dan Evans said the kit, which is worth up to £6,000, is almost indistinguishable from real weaponry.

“We’ve just been successful in getting planning permission to relocate,” he said.

“There’s between £4,000 and £6,000 worth of equipment gone and we need it to operate our business.

“Most companies coming here rent our equipment. It’s not good news for our business at all.”

Police believe the equipment was taken from the site on Thursday night. The theft was discovered on Friday morning.

Airsoft is a competitive team sport. Participants shoot each other with spherical plastic pellets.

Contact Front also offers counter terrorism and infantry skills workshops, as well as leadership and team building exercises.

Mr Evans said: “We need to make people aware of the theft. We don’t want them getting into the wrong hands.

“Police armed response teams would not be able to tell the difference from just looking at them.”

An appeal for the lookalike weapons to be returned has been shared by hundreds of people on social media.

Among the replica items stolen are 20 guns, 50 grenades and the deactivated rocket launcher.

Detective Inspector Neil Wright, of Bournemouth CID, said: “I would like to reassure the public that an investigation into this burglary is underway.

“Although we have no information to suggest that these weapons are a danger to the wider public, please contact Dorset Police if you are offered these items for sale or see them for sale in suspicious circumstances.”

Anyone with information should contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting 55170190548.