DUP councillor and chairperson of Antrim District Policing Partnership, Pam Lewis has described as "deeply worrying" the theft of a police officer's legally held handgun from his home at the weekend.
The firearm and a car were taken during the burglary on the Seven Mile Straight in the early hours of Saturday morning.
It is understood that several other items were also taken in the burglary.
Commenting on the theft, Cllr. Lewis said: "The
intrusion by anyone into someone else's property is in its self a terrifying and traumatic ordeal.
"This particular burglary has an added sinister dimension, given that one of the items stolen was the police officer's legally held handgun."
Cllr. Lewis said that not only had those engaged in this "sickening crime" inflicted fear on those they burgled, but now that the thieves are in possession of a gun, they may well attempt to use it in order to carry out further crime, "inflicting more fear and sorrow on their unsuspecting victims".
"I would urge anyone with information to assist the police in their investigation so that those responsible are very quickly brought before the courts and the firearm is returned to safe keeping, to those who uphold the law rather than those who are lawbreakers," Cllr. Lewis added.
Police are appealing for help in catching those responsible for the burglary, which occurred at around 3.30am.
The car, a Mini Cooper, was later found by police abandoned in the Stewartstown Road area of west Belfast.
Several other items were taken in the burglary.
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