Fresh details have emerged after it was revealed last week that Australian swimming great Ian Thorpe was the victim of an alleged robbery at his Sydney home.
It is understood that the five-time gold medallist has lost valuables worth an estimated $150,000.
The former swimmer, 42, reported the missing items to Paddington police station last Thursday and officers have now launched an investigation.
Eyebrows had been initially raised over how the items had gone missing after his manager James Erskine told The Sydney Morning Herald last week that there ‘seems to be no obvious break-in’ at his home.
But 2GB’s Ben Fordham revealed a fresh twist on the situation on Monday, claiming that police, as part of their investigations are ‘examining a removalist company.’
‘Ian Thorpe is of the belief that his watches and jewellery went missing during a move and we can see from property records that late last year, Thorpy sold his home in Woollahra in Sydney’s eastern suburbs,’ Fordham said during a live broadcast on Monday.
Australian swimming great Ian Thorpe reported several missing personal items to police last week
NSW police are investigating the matter as an alleged robbery and are investigating a removalist as part of their inquiries
‘We don’t know where he’s moved to but when Ian Thorpe was moving his possessions, he believes that some went missing. Watches, jewellery, and some other valuable items.
‘He doesn’t know how much they’re worth. But his best guess is $150,000.’
Fordham added: ‘We don’t have any evidence that they are in any way responsible for the missing items.’
Thorpe is due to return to present Channel 9’s coverage of the Australian swimming trials at the South Australia Aquatic and Leisure Centre later this week.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted his agent, James Erskine, for comment.
Last week, Erskine also delivered an update on the situation, revealing that none of Thorpe’s Olympic medals were missing. But he stated: ‘He has had some things stolen from his house – watches, jewellery, some personal items.
‘He called up his insurers, they said go and make a police report.’
Erskine also told The Sydney Morning Herald that Thorpe was doing ‘fine’ following the shocking discovery.
Thorpe (right) is Australia’s most decorated male swimmer. It is understood that his Olympic medals were not included in the items that went missing
Thorpe (pictured) attended Paddington Police Station to report the missing items
He adds that the swimmer ‘is not too bothered about the material stuff.’
Last week, Thorpe cut a dejected figure as he was photographed shopping near his eastern suburbs home on Friday.
It came just hours after reports emerged that he was missing several sentimental items.
Thorpe, who is Australia’s most decorated male Olympic Swimmer, cut a dejected figure as he walked around a supermarket while speaking on the phone.
The Australian has not yet publicly commented on the alleged crime.
New South Wales, meanwhile, issued a statement last week to confirm that they had commenced an investigation.
‘At about 4pm on Thursday, June 5, a 42-year-old man attended Paddington police station to report an alleged theft incident,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
‘Officers attached to eastern suburbs have commenced an investigation into the alleged incident.
The swimming great is understood to have lost around $150,000 following the alleged crime
‘There is no further information available at this time.’
Thorpe had taken a financial hit last October after the former swimmer was forced to reduce the listing price of his luxury Sydney home from $3.7million to $3.5m
He had purchased the four-bed, three-bathroom townhouse in 2017 for $2.75m.
The home itself is said to be one of the most stylish and stunning properties in the area, with Thorpe having carried out extensive renovation works to the property.
It features open-plan living areas and a beautiful terrace.
Thorpe had also previously been the subject of an alleged theft in 2005.
It is understood that his Audi TT was broken into while parked in Glebe, in Sydney’s inner west. It is understood that thieves stole a watch from the vehicle which was given to Thorpe at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
‘The watch that’s missing has great sentimental value to me and I would really appreciate it being returned,’ Thorpe had said at the time.
