Police allege man created fake will to take possession of Wollongong home

A gun and ammunition NSW Police officers allege they recovered from an East Corrimal home. Photo: NSW Police.

A man allegedly created a fake will to inherit a $4.5 million Wollongong estate, NSW Police say.

In January 2024, officers attached to Wollongong Police District received a report of an alleged break-in at a home – which was an unoccupied deceased estate – in East Corrimal.

Strike Force Sarina was established to investigate the incident.

A NSW Police spokesperson said in September 2024, strike force officers executed a search warrant at a home in East Corrimal where they allegedly found a number of documents – including an original will – which were seized for forensic examination.

“Following extensive inquiries, about 8:40 am on Wednesday 15 January 2025 a second search warrant was executed at the same address in East Corrimal,” the NSW Police spokesperson said.

Police allegedly located and seized two rifles, four gel blasters, ammunition, methylamphetamines, cash, three motor vehicles, a jetski and a motorcycle.

A 38-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Wollongong Police Station, where he was charged with 27 offences.

These included making a false document to obtain financial advantage, making a false document to obtain property, dishonestly obtaining property by deception, dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, seven counts of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, nine counts of possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing ammunition without holding a licence or permit, possessing more than three unregistered firearms without a licence or permit, supplying a prohibited drug, possessing a prohibited drug, participating in a criminal group, breaking, entering and stealing of a value less than $60,000, and stealing a motor vehicle.

The NSW Police spokesperson said police will allege that a will was fraudulently created using documents allegedly stolen from the home and submitted to apply for probate.

It will be alleged the estimated value of the fraud is more than $4.5 million – and involved four homes and two bank accounts.

The man was refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court on Thursday (16 January).

Investigations are continuing.