Matthew Graham, 34, stole three firearms, ammunition, a motorbike, socks and a pair of jeans from a Monteville Lane house, while the owners were on holiday, on January 18, 2018.

The County Court at Ballarat was told on Wednesday a block of cheese was located in the owner's child's bedroom with a bite mark. It was later tested and was found to have Graham's DNA on it.

The Colac man then broke into a neighbouring Monteville Lane property about midnight by smashing a glass door.

The owner arrived home at 1.50am on January 19 to find the television on, food and drinks on the kitchen bench and Graham asleep on a couch.

The owner, a martial arts expert, took hold of his firearm and handcuffs and yelled at Graham to get on the ground. Graham complied and the owner placed him in handcuffs.

Graham told the owner he was inside the house because he was trying to get out of the heat, while the owner told police there was evidence Graham had been sleeping on his bed because the covers were ruffled.

The court was told police located all of the stolen items, including the firearms and motorbike, strewn across Monteville Lane.

Police arrested Graham at the second victim's front gate and he was taken to the Bacchus Marsh Police Station for interview. He was co-operative with police but did not make admissions to the burglaries.

Graham pleaded guilty on Wednesday to four charges relating to the incidents, including two counts of burglary and one count each of firearm theft and theft.

Defence barrister David Gray said his client "simply went off the rails" in 2014 when he injured his back at work and was compensated about $380,000.

He said the meat manager developed a methylamphetamine habit, appeared in court and was jailed in 2017.

Mr Gray said on the day of the Ballan burglaries, his client had been swimming with friends at Pykes Creek Reservoir in his underwear.

He said the group saw police approaching and they fled, leaving their clothes behind, because they had driven a stolen vehicle. Graham broke into the first house to get some clothes and noticed no one was home.

"Burglaries violate the sanctuary of someone's home; that's accepted. But all of the goods were found on the premises or nearby," Mr Gray said.

He said Graham had transformed his life since the burglaries by working full-time, ceasing his drug use and reuniting with his seven-month-old child. Mr Gray urged the court to consider a community correction order.

Crown prosecutor Nicholas Batten said the prosecution was concerned about Graham's drug screening results, which showed his urine was diluted during some tests.

Judge Peter Wischusen adjourned sentencing until October 1 so Graham can provide monthly clear drug screening results. He was placed on bail.

The maximum penalty for burglary and theft is 10 years' imprisonment, while it is 15 years' imprisonment for firearm theft.

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