A 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named because he is a juvenile, was charged with burglary, theft and possessing a prohibited substance and appeared in the ACT Children's Court on Friday.

Michael James Olsen, 23, also faced court charged with theft and aiding or abetting burglary.

Police allege the owner of the Knoke Avenue house suspected someone was inside when she returned home and heard the sound of a window opening shortly after midday on Thursday.

The woman contacted police, who searched the property a short time later but did not find anyone inside.

They discovered items worth $2900, including four iPads, a quad bike, two helmets and jewellery, were missing from the home, police said.

Officers door-knocked the area and were given a description of the two males and a white Toyota Landcruiser.

One neighbour told them two ''scruffy, odd-looking'' males had driven past another Gordon home that same day and appeared to be ''casing the place'', according to police facts tendered in court.

Police later saw the vehicle travelling along Box Hill Avenue in Banks and the driver and passenger were recognised as the two offenders.

The teenager admitted to the burglary and stolen property was found in the car.

Police discovered three small clip-sealed bags, one covered in images of alien heads, each of which contained a crystal substance thought to be ice.

They said they seized knuckle dusters from Olsen.

The 23-year-old was granted bail in the ACT Magistrates Court and is expected to face court again later this month.

Magistrate Karen Fryar refused the teenager's bail application in the ACT Children's Court on grounds he was likely to reoffend.

The boy was remanded in custody until his next court appearance on August 29.