Two more arrests over theft of guns in NSW

Three men have been charged and a fourth is being sought over the alleged theft and distribution of five handguns in NSW.

The arrests were made by a strike force set up after the theft of the guns from a property in Thirroul, in the Illawarra region, last Friday night.

Early on Thursday morning, police recovered a backpack containing one of the stolen guns after stopping a taxi on Shellharbour Road at Warrawong.

Two other men were arrested and charged some hours later and a second handgun was recovered during a search in Warilla.

A 33-year-old man was charged with nine offences and a 51-year-old man with four' both were refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Friday.

A 27-year-old man is already before the courts charged with 15 offences relating to the alleged theft and distribution of the handguns. He is due to reappear in Wollongong Local Court on January 31.