A group of Ontario youths were arrested with a stealthy firearm that looks like it was lifted straight from a 1960s spy flick, known as a pen gun, after allegedly fleeing police in a stolen vehicle.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Highway Safety Division shared details of the arrests and seizure of the cleverly-disguised weapon on social media Thursday evening.

The group of four suspects attempted to flee police pursuit in a stolen vehicle on Salem Road in Ajax, but Toronto OPP eventually caught up with the group, who were charged with stolen property and other offences. One of those arrested was also charged with weapons offences in relation to the pen gun.

Photos released by the OPP show a small metal cylinder with a red-orange cap and what appears to be a makeshift trigger, measuring about 14 centimetres in length.

For those unfamiliar with these improvised firearms, sometimes referred to as zip or pipe guns, they are typically crudely constructed, smaller calibre (like the .22 cal seized by police) single-shot weapons.

They look so far removed from standard firearms that the OPP had to assure social media followers that, "Yes, this is a gun!"

Yes, this is a gun! Four youths arrested after trying to flee from police in a stolen vehicle on Salem Rd #Ajax. #TorontoOPP charged all youth with stolen property and other offences. One youth also charged with weapons offences after locating a .22 cal pen gun. pic.twitter.com/6vqJtbVWis

— OPP Highway Safety Division (@OPP_HSD) March 16, 2023

Pen guns have existed since the turn of the 20th century, according to the U.S. FBI, so while they are nothing new in terms of technology, they are a relatively modern phenomenon in Canadian law enforcement.

Any gun is inherently dangerous, but it's the lack of easily distinguishing features that make pen guns or any other disguised weapons especially concerning.

After a 2013 seizure of a pen gun during a drug bust in Alberta, Calgary Police Staff-Sgt. Geoff Gawlinski warned that "If a child picked this up, they wouldn't think this would be a weapon."