Tough laws banning guns from being kept at hobby farms or holiday houses, and forcing owners to keep weapons in more secure safes, should be introduced to prevent firearms from falling in the hands of criminals, a senior Victoria Police officer says.

Superintendent Craig Gillard said organised criminals were able to steal thousands of firearms from registered owners in regional Victoria because existing laws meant safes were easily compromised and many properties were vacant when thieves struck.

Shotguns are one of the most popular weapons in the underworld.

After a year plagued by gun crime, Victoria Police committed to reviewing firearm laws and will make a submission to the state government. A new illicit firearms investigation team, embedded within the anti-gang Purana Task force, was announced earlier this month.

Superintendent Gillard, the head of practice for livestock and farm crime, said regional victims of gun theft almost always complied with laws regarding registration and storage, but were still an easy target.