Winnipeg’s Bear Clan Patrol has pulled an improvised firearm off Winnipeg streets and out of the hands of a teenager.

Bear Clan leader James Favel told CTV News two volunteers came across the zip gun on Wednesday while out on patrol.

Elvis Mckay was one of those volunteers and said he and his partner saw a young teen holding the homemade weapon while chasing another teen.

“Came around the corner and other one that was getting chased was saying, ‘Help me,’ so we stopped. And me and my partner stepped in and she walked up to the youth that had the weapon and took it away from him,” Mckay said.

The improvised firearm has been handed over to the Winnipeg Police Service.

Const. Rob Carver spoke with CTV News about the weapon, saying it was “a mess” and “unstable.”

“The bigger risk is that the person who has it, if it fires, it will blow up their face and injure or kill them,” Carver said.

Police have stressed officers are finding a growing number of improvised guns on the streets.

Police said in 2016 only three were seized, and six the following year.

In 2018, more than 50* were taken.

In 2019 to date, police have already found 30 improvised guns.

“It’s a double threat from a society standpoint. It’s a threat to anyone it’s pointed at,” Carver said.

“Our officers have to view it as a deadly force encounter. It’s inherently dangerous to the user as well. It’s kind of a unique problem.”

Carver also said improvised guns are typically ending up in the hands of younger people and that police are seeing a “split” as to who is making the weapons.

“Sometimes it’s people sitting around cobbling it together because they think they can, or they’ve heard someone else did it,” Carver said.

“We have a suspicion that there’s someone possibly making some. We see a couple that have some similarities, wondering if maybe the same kid sat down and did two of them. We’re not entirely sure yet.”

Meanwhile, Favel said Bear Clam members are finding more and more edged weapons: a trend he’s worried will continue with zip guns as summer approaches and more people spend time outside.

“With the prevalence of methamphetamine it makes people paranoid. Paranoid people tend to arm themselves against perceived threats. Whether or not they exist is another thing,” Favel said.

*Note: A previous version of this story stated more than 60 improvised guns had been seized in 2018. Police later clarified that number represented the total over three years.