The 16-year-old cannot be identified but was arrested along with two other teenagers and two adults when police swooped on the Craigends Lane property on Tuesday afternoon.

The Leader can reveal a phone seized by police on Monday allegedly showed teenagers holding the rifle at the property.

Local police and the Target Action Group (TAG), working under Operation Southbreak to target property crime, and backed by the local dog squad, were granted a search warrant and raided the house about 4pm on Tuesday.

The rifle was found inside a bedroom as well as other suspected stolen goods including car keys.

The teenage boy appeared in Tamworth Children’s Court on Tuesday morning on eight charges including possession of an unregistered and unauthorised rifle.

The boy was granted bail to live away from Tamworth. He’s facing a charge of aggravated break-and-enter stemming from an alleged break-in at a house in The Heights in the early hours of March 13.

He’s also accused of stealing two credit cards from a car in Overlanders Way on March 19 before allegedly using them to purchase goods on paywave at local sports stores and surf wear shops.

A 15-year-old has also been charged with possessing the same firearm, along with a 24-year-old who is also accused of not keeping the firearm safe and cultivating cannabis plants, allegedly found in the backyard.

A 14-year-old boy is facing charges of aggravated break-and-enter and armed with intent. The trio will appear in court next month.

A 53-year-old man arrested at the same property was granted bail for dishonestly obtaining property by deception after allegedly using a stolen bank card to purchase goods by paywave.

Investigations continue.