A major police investigation is underway after a midnight heist on one of WA's biggest gun stores, in which thieves cut through a wall to steal about 100 firearms.

Key points: Thieves triggered an alarm when they broke into the store just before midnight

Thieves triggered an alarm when they broke into the store just before midnight Police say the stolen firearms are mainly handguns and some long-barrel firearms

Police say the stolen firearms are mainly handguns and some long-barrel firearms A stolen Toyota Hilux linked to the burglary was found burnt out in North Lake

Police were alerted to a break-in at Claremont Firearms on Erceg Road in the southern Perth suburb of Yangebup just before midnight last night.

An alarm went off around 11.30pm after thieves entered the premises by using power tools to cut through an exterior concrete wall in a neighbouring property on Cutting Way.

Police said about 100 firearms, mostly handguns and some long-barrel firearms, were stolen from the store.

"The preparation and research is obviously very extensive," Detective Inspector Peter Foley from the WA Police Serious and Organised Crime Division said.

"It's a well-orchestrated criminal act, there has been a bit of preparation.

A formal audit of the store's stock was underway to determine exactly how many firearms were taken.

Burnt-out ute linked to heist

Detectives are seeking information about the movements of a stolen white Toyota Hilux linked to the burglary.

Detectives appealed for information about a stolen Toyota Hilux linked to the burglary. ( Supplied: WA Police )

The vehicle, with the registration 1GPM 241, was stolen from Cockburn Central Shopping Centre on November 11 and was located burnt out in North Lake earlier today.

Detectives wanted to hear from anyone who saw the vehicle in the past fortnight, or who noticed a vehicle of similar description attend any neighbouring properties.

The Toyota Hilux ute believed to have been used in the heist was later found destroyed. ( Supplied: WA Police )

Police said the store owner had appropriate security measures installed, but he had encountered a "well-planned and well-organised" group that used "extreme measures" to enter the building.

"All the [stolen] firearms were contained in the strong or safe room in the building," Detective Inspector Foley said.

"Obviously it's taken some time to do the cutting and take the firearms of this number, they would have been there for some time."

Police say thieves entered the premises through a neighbouring property on Cutting Way. ( ABC News: David Weber )

Detective Inspector Foley said the recovery of the stolen guns was "a major priority".

"Firearms, particularly handguns, present a real risk to the community, and it is fair to say the intended destination of the stolen firearms is the black market, and into the hands of criminals," he said.

"The community can be assured that police officers will be working 24/7 to investigate this incident and recover the firearms."

Second gun store recently targeted

The heist comes just two months after a major robbery at another gun store in Beckenham, south-east of Perth, where an 81-year-old gun-shop owner was kidnapped and beaten.

A large number of guns were stolen from the store in Beckenham in September. ( Supplied: WA Police )

Police recovered more than 100 firearms linked to the incident in a storage shed in Forrestdale during raids at a number of properties.

A 23-year-old man was charged and appeared in court in September, while the search continues for another man who is believed to have fled the country.

Police said the two incidents were unlikely to be connected as the methods of execution were very different.

Anyone with dashcam footage around the Yangebup area between Wednesday and the early hours of this morning has been asked to contact police.