NSW opal theft: Clayton David Love charged over Lake Illawarra home invasion

An Illawarra man is the fourth person charged over the alleged theft of more than $500,000 worth of opals during a home invasion earlier this year.

A fourth person has been charged over the alleged theft of opals valued at more than $500,000 during a home invasion in the Illawarra earlier this year.

Police allege four people went to a home on the Princes Hwy at Albion Park Rail on February 10 and demanded opal stones from the occupant’s personal connection.

The occupants – a 46-year-old man and 26-year-old woman – handed over a large collection of opal stones valued at more than $500,000.

The group is alleged to have then fled the scene in a black Ford sedan.

A fourth person has been charged over the alleged theft of opals valued at more than $500,000 during a home invasion in the Illawarra earlier this year. Picture: NSW Police

Officers from Lake Illawarra Police began investigating before detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad took over the investigation under Strike Force Diment.

Detectives arrested 42-year-old Clayton David Love on the corner of Market and Church streets at Wollongong on Wednesday morning and allegedly seized methylamphetamine.

He was taken to Wollongong police station where he was charged with three counts possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, three counts acquire prohibited firearm – subject prohibition order, two counts possess prohibited drug, possess instructions for manufacture prohibited drug, special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – weapon, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, supply prohibited drug commercial quantity, possess ammunition without holding licence or permit or authority, acquire ammunition subject to prohibition order, supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis, and supply prohibited drug more than indictable less than commercial quantity.

Detectives arrested a 42-year-old man on the corner of Market and Church streets at Wollongong on Wednesday morning and allegedly seized methylamphetamine. Picture: Steven Bell

Mr Love’s case was mentioned in Wollongong Local Court in front of Magistrate Clair Girotto on Thursday, where his lawyer Graeme Morrison said he would not be making an application for bail.

He was formally refused bail and will remain on remand in custoody until he reappears before the court in January.

Mr Love is the fourth person charged in relation to the alleged theft after Victorian police arrested a 27-year-old man and 28-year-old man a vehicle stop at St Kilda on May 12.

The men were extradited to NSW and taken to Surry Hills police station, while police allegedly seized a quantity of opals during a search of a vehicle.

The 28-year-old was charged with two counts of take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage, specially aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-weapon, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

The 27-year-old man was charged with knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, and specially aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence-weapon.

A 53-year-old woman has also been charged and remains before the courts.

Investigations under Strike Force Diment are continuing.