Michael Paul Ryan is accused of breaking into multiple cars and pinching items including a children's book during a spate of offending between March 4 and March 9.

He fronted Port Kembla Local Court on Thursday charged with 11 counts of entering a vehicle without the owner's consent; eight of larceny and 11 of dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

The deception charges stem from allegations Ryan used stolen credit cards to buy cigarettes and other goods at area petrol stations.

Other stolen items cited in documents before the court include an engine coil, $30 cash, a child's backpack and four CDs.

Arguing against bail, prosecutor Sergeant Andrew Kingston categorised Ryan's offending as "aggressive". He pointed to Ryan's history of failing to appear at court, the likelihood he would be sentenced to full-time prison and his drug habit as reasons for the court to keep him behind bars.

"[The alleged offending] is for the purpose of buying ice," Sgt Kingston said. "There's just no way of mitigating that [risk of re-offending] while there is the addiction to ice."

But Ryan's solicitor, John Gallagher, told the court his client had attributed his offending to his being "under duress". Via video link, Ryan said: "This is completely out of my character," he said. "I'm very sorry for what I've done, it's not something I would ever do in the future."

Ryan was granted bail under strict conditions, including that he report to police daily and not leave the house outside the hours of 6am and 6pm.

An acceptable person was required to deposit a $5000 surety.

The matter was adjourned to Port Kembla Local Court on March 17.