An Albion Park Rail man found with in possession of three air rifles at his home, one of which looked like a black military-style machine gun, will remain behind bars ahead of his sentencing in September.
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Ryan Katipa, 28, was wanted by police investigating a series of thefts from motor vehicles at the carpark of a popular Macquarie Pass walking track when officers discovered the guns during a search of his Melaleuca Road home on the morning of May 29.
Documents tendered to Wollongong Local Court this week said police were granted a warrant to search Katipas house the day prior, and arrived at the property about 11am, where they were met by one of Katipas family members.
Katipa himself was not home at the time.
Officers made the alarming gun discovery as they began sifting through the contents of the house.
One of the weapons was described by police as a black military style-machine gun air rifle with magazine, while the other two were described as plastic wood stock air rifles, which had the appearance of long rifles.
One of those guns was fitted out with a scope, magazine and laser sight.
Police also uncovered an illegal butterfly knife, a laser pointer and 10 MDMA tablets.
Katipa was arrested a week later after he was spotted driving a Hyundai i30 on Military Road at Port Kembla.
Officers patrolling the area recognised Katipa as a disqualified driver and pulled him over, at which time a check on the police database revealed he was wanted for the theft and gun matters.
During a subsequent interview at Wollongong Police Station, Katipa made admissions to owning the weapons, saying hed purchased the guns from the markets and the knife from the internet.
He denied the tablets found were MDMA, claiming instead they were steroids.
Katipa was charged with five gun and weapon possession charges, along with driving disqualified and two counts of larceny, both of which stem from his involvement in the thefts from vehicles at Macquarie Pass.
He confirmed guilty pleas to each of the charges during a brief appearance in court this week.
He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.
Katipa will be sentenced on September 1.
