However, Carl Lawrence denied the gun was his during a brief appearance in Wollongong Local Court on Friday, claiming multiple people have access to the unit and therefore had the opportunity to stash the gun in the home.

Court documents said officers attended Lawrence's Myuna Way unit just after 1pm to serve a firearms and weapons prohibition order on him.

Lawrence was placed under arrest for an unrelated traffic matter at the time, however it is alleged he managed to break free from police and ran down the stairway of the unit block in a bid to escape.

He was tackled to the ground at the bottom of the stairs and handcuffed.

Police then asked him if he had anything to declare inside the property, to which he answered no.

He was taken to Wollongong Police Station while other officers search the unit.

It will be alleged they found a silver and black 9mm hand pistol in a cardboard box under the bed.

The magazine was inserted into the bottom of the firearm however no round was chambered, police said.

Lawrence was subsequently charged with possessing an unregistered firearm, not keeping a firearm safely, possessing or use a prohibited weapon without permission,resisting police and escaping police custody.

He sought bail in court on Friday, with his lawyer, Lemar Miakhel, arguing the case against his client wasn't strong.

"There's nothing in the [police] facts forensically linking the gun to Mr Lawrence, no fingerprints or DNA," he said. "A number of other people have access to the unit as well, I'm told."

However, Magistrate Susan McGowan refused to release Lawrence on account of his lengthy criminal history.

The case will return to court on March 24.