Two arrests after separate improvised firearm discoveries
South Australian police have charged two men after separate incidents involving allegedly improvised firearms, including a handgun disguised to resemble a mobile phone and a homemade device described by police as a “pen gun”.
The cases, reported by SA Police in separate public statements, are not alleged to be connected. Together, however, they highlight the risks authorities say are posed by improvised and concealed weapons, particularly when devices are modified or disguised in ways that make them harder to identify during routine police work.
In the first matter, Whyalla police arrested a 45-year-old man last week after allegedly locating an improvised firearm during a police interaction. Police said the weapon was found in a satchel bag and was disguised to look like a mobile phone. Images released with the report showed a red phone-shaped item opened to reveal what appeared to be a trigger mechanism.
The man was charged with possessing a firearm without a licence and contravening a firearm prohibition order. Police also laid a separate aggravated assault charge. He did not apply for bail and was expected to appear before the Whyalla Magistrates Court.
Police allege “pen gun” found after shooting report
In a second and unrelated case, police said emergency services were called to a home on Nadia Crescent at Christie Downs, in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, at about 1:45am on Tuesday, May 19, following reports that a man had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg.
A 27-year-old Evanston man was taken to hospital with injuries police described as non-life threatening. Detectives later allegedly seized a homemade “pen gun” from the home. The man was arrested last week and charged with an aggravated count of possessing a firearm without a licence.
Police said he was refused bail and appeared before the Christies Beach Magistrates Court. No finding has been made by the court, and the charge remains an allegation unless proven.
Concealed weapons present practical risks
Firearms disguised as everyday objects are a particular concern for police because they can blur the visual cues officers and members of the public use to identify a threat. A device that looks like a phone, pen or other ordinary item may not be recognised as a weapon until it is handled or activated.
South Australia has strict firearm licensing rules, and possession without a licence can attract serious penalties. Firearm prohibition orders add another layer of restriction for people whom authorities have determined should not possess or access guns. Alleged breaches of those orders are generally treated seriously by police and the courts because of the public safety concerns involved.
The incidents also show how police investigations into one matter can lead to separate weapon-related allegations. In Whyalla, officers allegedly found the phone-like device during an arrest connected to firearms offences. At Christie Downs, the alleged pen gun seizure followed a call for help after an apparent shooting injury.
Cases to proceed through the courts
Both men will now face the court process, where prosecutors will need to prove the allegations. The details released so far are based on police statements and should not be taken as findings of guilt.
The arrests come amid continuing concern across Australia about illegal firearms, modified weapons and the circulation of homemade devices. While most firearms offences involve conventional guns, improvised weapons can create additional uncertainty for police because they are often crude, unpredictable and easily concealed.
For communities in Whyalla and Adelaide’s south, the immediate issue is now before the courts. For police, the two cases reinforce a broader message: weapons that are disguised, homemade or held without lawful authority remain a priority because even small devices can cause serious harm.