Anyone spotted carrying replica AK47s stolen a week ago risks being shot by police, a war games organiser has warned.
Thieves used an oxyacetaline torch to cut their way through four locks and a thick metal door to take the 10 airsoft guns, 50 distraction grenades and a generator, from a flooded bunker complex in Ashley Road, Epsom.
Now the owners of the weapons, who run Elite Action Games have warned that the weapons are so realistic that firearm officers could open fire on anyone carrying them.
At the scene on Monday John - who did not want his surname used, pointed to one of his remaining replica guns and said: "To the untrained eye the guns look realistic, which is why we called the police.
"We do not want some kid getting shot because some firearm officer is going to shoot them. There’s a degree of responsibility with all this that goes beyond playing with toy guns."
The break-in took place sometime between 5pm on Sunday, February 9, and 4pm on Monday, February 10 and the thieves escaped with a haul estimated to be worth a couple of thousand pounds.
The replica weapons, had just been salvaged from eight feet of flood water currently in the tunnels, and the thieves job was made easier because street lights were not working on Ashley Road.
After the break-in, a small trolley was found by a fence next to trees that mask the secluded entrance to the World War II shelter.
John said: "They came for the generator and got very lucky because the guns were boxed up, waiting for them. We suspect it was someone we know unfortunately. They knew exactly where to cut the door."
On top of all their flooding woes, he said: "That’s insult to injury. It’s a bit soul destroying. The club is devastated by the flooding because we cannot operate."
He and his colleague Tom, who also refused to reveal his surname, opened the burnt steel door to find the flood water had risen yet again over the weekend.
It was pitch-black inside because the generator has been stolen.
Walking into the flooded tunnel, John said: "That’s ridiculous. We are not even a metre in. I can’t believe that. I was really hoping that it would have subsided. I’m gobsmacked by that."
He said the between 30 and 40 players who usually come down on Wednesday nights now have "nothing to do" although they are running sessions at an old paintballing site in Dorking.
John said: "We have got some fantastic members. We have had some offers of support from the guys. Everybody wants to get in there and get on with our games again."
He said that it will take months before the flooding starts receding and they can get the fire service in to pump out the remainder of the water.
The flooding was first discovered on Wednesday, February 5, and keeps rising.
John said: "When it rains it pours. The water is coming in under pressure so it can only be the water table. We have never seen it this deep before."
The tunnels were built at the start of the war to shelter more than 2,000 people from German bombs in Epsom.
But they were rarely used and are now only home to bats and rats as well as being used by Elite Action Games.
A replica G36 used by Elite Action Games
PC Gemma Taylor said: "Although the stolen weapons are replicas, to the untrained eye these items could cause panic and alarm therefore we need to locate them as soon as possible to avoid this.
"I would like to reassure the public, that although the stolen replica weapons my look frightening, the guns are not able to cause injury to a person and the grenades will only generate a loud bang when used.
"At this stage in the investigation it is unclear why the stolen property was taken.
"There is always the possibility this was done to commit further crime and I would urge anyone who feels threatened not to take any risks and call police immediately.
"I would urge anyone who knows where these stolen items are or has any other information about who is responsible for the theft to contact officers as a matter of urgency."
In 2012, planning permission was granted to turn the 2,000 square metres of tunnels into a vault for precious metals.
But since then nothing has been done to convert the tunnels into a bullion vault.
The plan was the brainchild of holocaust survivor and distinguished engineer Dr Wilem Frischmann CBE, who helped design Centre Point in central London.
His daughter Justine was lead singer of alternative rock band Elastica and dated Damon Albarn of Blur during the 1990s.
Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference 45140010563 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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