A 32-year-old man staying at a city hotel was storing a modified and prohibited rifle with bullets in the building's basement, police have alleged.
ACT Policing said the man was allegedly linked to a string of five commercial burglaries in Canberra this month.
Several items and cash were allegedly stolen from the various locations.
The man was arrested in the hotel's foyer and charged in the ACT Magistrates Court with two counts of driving while disqualified, driving unregistered, possessing stolen property, intimidating a public official, and breaching a good behaviour order.
Police said he was released on bail last week and had been staying at the nearby hotel.
Officers alleged the man was recorded on CCTV cameras driving a stolen black Toyota Yaris on Tuesday, August 27, and accused him of breaching his bail conditions.
The man was arrested at the hotel on Thursday.
Police searched his room along with the vehicle parked in the hotel's basement.
Officers allegedly found the illegal weapon and ammunition in the reportedly stolen Yaris.
The man faced more than 15 charges at the ACT courts on Friday. Police said they were:
- three counts aggravated burglary (joint commission)
- four counts of driving a motor vehicle without consent
- two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon
- possessing a firearm
- possessing ammunition
- five counts of driving while disqualified
- two counts of joint commission theft
- one count of breaching a good behaviour order.
He pleaded not guilty and did not apply for bail.
