Figtree: Caden Collis, Tyson Komainadravusa granted bail following alleged home invasion
Two young men have been granted bail following an alleged violent home invasion, police allege was sparked by expensive gaming consoles and $60,000 cash.
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Drugs, expensive gaming consoles and $60,000 cash were allegedly the catalyst for a violent alleged home invasion in Figtree involving four young masked men on Monday, a court has heard.
Young 18-year-old tradies Caden Collis and Tyson Komainadravusa have both been released on strict bail after they were arrested earlier this week and charged with aggravated break and enter with intent to steal while armed.
Collis’s parents were forced to put up a $50,000 surety for his release to bail on Tuesday, while Komainadravusa’s family put $20,000 for his release to bail at Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday.
In documents tendered to the court, police allege the teens and two of their mates stormed a St George Ave home just before 3pm on Monday, with the hopes of finding 450 grams of cannabis, gaming equipment and $60,000 they believed the alleged victim was keeping at the property.
Covering their faces, the group entered the home through the garage, with Collis allegedly holding a baseball bat and Komainadravusa holding a knife.
In the documents, police allege Komainadravusa grabbed the alleged victim by the neck and held a knife toward him as he pushed him into his bedroom.
As he held the man on the ground and made demands for cash, police allege Collis and the two other men began ransacking the room.
Instead of finding the huge amount of cash and cannabis they were after, the group allegedly started stuffing several items into a duffel bag, including a designer watch worth $1000, an Xbox, a Louis Vuitton glasses case, a Gucci bag worth $1400, a pair of Nike TNs and $900 worth of cannabis.
Meanwhile, there were four female witnesses in the home, one of whom allegedly began filming the attackers.
Before running off from the property, police allege one of the men struck the alleged victim in the face saying “you better not f***ing say anything”.
The group allegedly took off in a Holden Cruze driven by Collis and were spotted on CCTV footage at servo shortly after.
Collis was arrested at his dad’s home later that day and spent the night in the cells at Wollongong Police Station before he was granted bail on Tuesday.
Komainadravusa was arrested at his Bellambi home on Tuesday afternoon where police allege in documents they found the majority of the stolen items.
It’s alleged that when police found the duffel bag of goods Komainadravusa said “it doesn’t look good, but I can explain it”.
He was taken to Wollongong Police Station where it’s alleged he made partial admissions to the home invasion but denied being in possession of a knife.
During his appearance at Wollongong Local Court, Magistrate Claire Girotto noted it was a very strong prosecution case, however agreed to grant Komainadravusa strict bail, ordering he reside with his grandparents at Windang and not leave the house between 8pm and 6am.
She also banned him from contacting his co-accused or entering the Bulli or Woonona areas.
Both matters will return to court in September.