Victoria: Off-duty cop's police car and loaded Smith & Wesson is STOLEN in burglary - now the gun is up for sale on an encrypted app for $30,000

A police car and an officer's loaded Smith & Wesson pistol has been stolen in an 'aggravated burglary' at a residential home.

The theft of the .40 calibre semi-automatic handgun, which was stored inside the unmarked police vehicle, occurred in Melbourne's southern suburbs at 5.30am on Tuesday.

While nobody was injured during the incident, the stolen weapon is believed to have quickly surfaced for sale on the black market.

An image of a Smith & Wesson, and a hand holding a loaded magazine beside it (pictured), appeared on an encrypted chat platform used by organised crime figures after the burglary

A police-issue semi-automatic pistol was taken from inside an unmarked police car on Tuesday morning. The car has been recovered but not the gun. Pictured: an unmarked Australian police car

An image of a police-issued Smith & Wesson, and a hand holding a loaded magazine beside it, appeared on an encrypted chat platform used by organised crime figures after the burglary.

An anonymous underworld crime figure told The Age the pistol is already for sale for $30,000.

The stolen police car has however been recovered.

It was found dumped in a nearby Melbourne suburb at 10.30am on Tuesday.

'This firearm is yet to be recovered and a significant investigation is underway to try and locate it,' Victoria Police said in a statement.

'The thieves also stole a number of other items from the home. No one was physically injured during the incident.

'The exact circumstances surrounding the aggravated burglary are still being determined and police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.'

Investigators do not believe the officer was specifically targeted by the thieves.

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