The theft police said, took place some time between 9 pm, on Tuesday and 6 am yesterday. In all, six nine-millimetre pistols, two .38 revolvers, 187 rounds of ammunition and the ceremonial chain worn by the chairman of the corporation Steve Castagne were stolen.
Investigators said at around 8.30 pm, on Tuesday, officers working at the Municipal Police Post, which is located next to the building where the items were stored, secured the cache of weapons in a vault before reporting off-duty and leaving the compound.
Four watchmen arrived and took up night duty until other police officers reported for work Wednesday morning, but when the officers arrived, they realised the vault was open and the items were missing, police said.
Police said there were no signs of forced entry, and the accounts department in the building, which is located at Orchid Drive, Petit Valley was ransacked. There are no surveillance cameras on the compound, they added.
Several people were taken into custody.
