Two separate firearm cases before South Australian courts
South Australian police have charged two men in separate investigations after allegedly discovering improvised firearms, including a handgun disguised to look like a mobile phone and a homemade “pen gun”. The cases, announced by police within days of each other, have drawn attention because of the unusual design of the alleged weapons and the potential public safety risks posed by firearms that are built to be concealed or mistaken for everyday objects.
Police said Whyalla officers arrested a 45-year-old man last week after allegedly locating an improvised firearm inside a satchel bag. According to police, the item was a handgun designed to resemble a mobile phone. 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.
The accused did not apply for bail and was expected to appear before the Whyalla Magistrates Court on Monday. The charges remain allegations and will be tested through the court process.
Alleged mobile phone firearm found in satchel
The Whyalla matter centres on what police described as a handgun disguised to resemble a mobile phone. Photographs released by police show a red device that opens to reveal a trigger mechanism, underscoring why investigators treat disguised weapons as a serious risk. Unlike conventional firearms, improvised or disguised weapons may be harder for members of the public, security staff and first responders to identify quickly during an emergency.
Firearms prohibition orders are used by authorities to restrict access to guns and related items by people considered a risk. An alleged breach of such an order is treated seriously because it can indicate that a person barred from having weapons has gained access to one despite those controls.
Police have not suggested the Whyalla case is connected to the second matter in Adelaide’s southern suburbs. The two cases were described as separate incidents, but both involved allegations that non-standard firearms had been found.
Separate Christie Downs shooting investigation
In the second case, police said emergency services were called to a home on Nadia Crescent at Christie Downs about 1:45am on Tuesday, May 19, after reports that a man had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg. The 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. Police said the man was arrested last week and charged with an aggravated count of possessing a firearm without a licence. He was refused bail and appeared in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court.
A pen gun is a compact improvised weapon designed to resemble a pen or similarly small object. While details of the alleged device have not been fully outlined in court, police statements indicate investigators believe it was capable of being used as a firearm. The incident is being treated separately from the Whyalla arrest.
Public safety concerns over concealed weapons
The alleged discoveries highlight a recurring concern for police: weapons that are modified, homemade or disguised can complicate both prevention and response. A firearm hidden inside an ordinary-looking object can be easier to carry unnoticed and more difficult to recognise before it is used. That creates risks not only for potential victims, but also for officers responding to volatile incidents.
Authorities have repeatedly urged members of the public to report suspected illegal firearms or unusual weapons rather than handle them. Even crude or improvised devices can cause serious injury, and their condition may make them unpredictable.
Both men are now before the courts. No findings have been made, and each is entitled to the presumption of innocence. Police say the matters remain part of their broader work to remove illegal firearms from the community and reduce the risk of weapon-related harm.
