The man, aged in his 40s, was interviewed by Wodonga police after Friday’s Border Mail reported the residents’ fears for their safety, which led to a member of the public coming forward with information.

“He was fully co-operative with police and assisted in locating the archery equipment, which included a further 12 arrows,” Sen-Constable Branko Ivic said of the man’s arrest.

“After reading (The Border Mail) article, he had hidden the equipment in the bonnet of a vehicle parked in his backyard and was going to dispose of it as soon as he could.”

Sen-Constable Ivic said the man told police he used the arrows to shoot at pigeons from his backyard as “they were keeping him awake”.

The man, who was released and expected to be charged on summons with weapons offences, allegedly told police he bought the archery equipment from a retail store in Wodonga.

Sen-Sgt George Bedson, also of Wodonga police, said the man’s behaviour was reckless.

“People who use weapons like this in a built-up area must realise they’re going to land somewhere,” he said.

“They put people’s lives in danger — they’re a serious type of weapon.”

Chenery Street resident Gail Hill and her family had been fearful to venture into their backyard after finding a total of three 60cm aluminium arrows piercing the ground on two separate days.

Theirs was one of at least two properties in the Chenery and Griffith streets area in which the missiles were found and yesterday Mrs Hill welcomed the breakthrough in the case.

“I know the pigeons can be frustrating and I sympathise with him a bit because things like that can be really annoying — it’s like a constantly barking dog,” she said.

“But it’s a bit of a silly thing to do.

“People have said to me ‘God, that’s really dangerous’.

“I could be hanging washing on the line and have one through my neck — that’s what my friends and family were saying.”