Warrnambool police said the firearms were among about 10 seized in the past five months as gun offences jump across the region.

A middle-aged Warrnambool man will appear in court after this week's find, which happened in a quiet residential street during the hunt for a wanted man.

He has been charged with being unlicensed and having unregistered firearms.

The maximum penalty for having an unregistered firearm is two years' imprisonment and a fine of almost $20,000.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Raven, of the Warrnambool police crime investigation unit, said there had been an increase in firearm offences during the past couple of months.

He said on Monday police were hunting a wanted man in Warrnambool when they discovered the weapons.

"We attended at an address of interest in east Warrnambool and parked in the street was an unlocked vehicle," he said.

"In that vehicle we found stereo equipment and then two firearms laying on the back seat.

"It's just unacceptable. If the fugitive had found those weapons then a whole range of pretty scary scenarios could have played out."

Detective Sergeant Raven said the unlicensed owner of the unregistered guns was visiting a friend.

"That gentleman has been charged with serious firearm offences and will face the Warrnambool Magistrates Court at a later date," he said.

"But, his blase attitude was just beyond belief. We are talking about series offences."

The CIU chief said just last week a sawn-off double barrel shotgun was found in a backpack after offenders were disturbed breaking into the Our Lady Help Of Christians Primary School in east Warrnambool.

"In the past five months Warrnambool CIU detectives have seized about 10 firearms from the properties and vehicles of criminals," he said.

"Those firearms are in the hands of offenders for only criminal purposes.

"It is essential firearm owners comply with firearm storage requirements and the penalties for not doing so are severe.

"Having firearms laying on the back seat of your car or behind the seat of the farm ute is simply not acceptable," he said.

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