Adrian Grundy, 36, faced six counts of larceny, having goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen, entering a vehicle without consent of the owner, carrying a cutting weapon, custody of a knife in a public place and malicious damage.

Nowra Magistrate Gabriel Fleming placed him on a 15-month intensive corrections order, meaning he serves his sentence within the community but must perform at least 32 hours community service per month.

Court papers said on June 6 last year Grundy stole a number of items in a Nowra CBD shoplifting spree.

Between 7.40am and 11am Grundy took a Ned Kelly hip flask and moneybox from the Cignall Tobacconist worth $80; a leather bag, coffee cup, a cat doorstop, a memory box and other items from Sturgiss Newsagency worth $297; a $15 T-shirt from Cotton On; $80 worth of clothing from Target and a black purse containing $130 cash.

Police also arrested Grundy on September 8 last year, acting on information from a member of the public who had spotted him breaking into a car in the Woolworths car park in the Nowra CBD.

Grundy was seen by a member of the public breaking into a sedan in the Egans Lane car park about 6.45pm.

Police attended the scene and found Grundy inside the car, holding several items of property.

When searched, police found a homemade double-ended knife and items of jewellery.