Three guns and four cans of capsicum spray have been stolen from a remote Northern Territory police station after thieves broke into a weapons safe.
Officers from the central Australian community of Finke, about 421 kilometres south of Alice Springs, were away this week working at Kulgera community, about 200km west of Finke, when robbers broke into the station, which police said is not always manned.
"There weren't officers there at the time, they were outside of the community, and it appears the offenders have taken advantage of that," acting assistant Commissioner Danny Bacon said.
It took several days for the officers to learn of the theft, after being told by a member of the public on Wednesday that the station had been robbed.
Police believe the thieves broke into a storage container using bolt-cutters to get through the chain wire mesh.
"They've actually forced through the door of the police station, from that they've stolen a safe which contained the keys, then they've broken into that particular safe and stolen the three firearms," acting assistant Commissioner Bacon said.
"The three firearms do remain outstanding, so we're asking members of the public if they do see those firearms or hear any information to call police immediately."
A .22 Bruno CZ Rifle, a .308 Remington 700, and a 12G Remington 12G are missing.
On Friday afternoon, police arrested a 20-year-old man from Finke.
Acting assistant Commissioner Bacon said police didn't make public the theft on Wednesday because they didn't want to jeopardise the arrest of the man, who is in custody and assisting them with their investigation.
"Certainly, having weapons out in the community in unknown hands is a worry for us," he said.
The incident was a "learning opportunity" for police, who are now reviewing the security of the Finke station and the circumstances of the theft, so they can improve standards at all NT police stations and armouries, acting assistant Commissioner Bacon said.
