Robert Booth fronted Wollongong Local Court on Thursday where he was denied bailed after he allegedly broke into a locked two-storey house on Burling Avenue about 12.45pm before ransacking it and stealing jewellery from the bedside table in the upstairs bedroom.

His haul allegedly included two gold watches, four sets of gold earrings, two gold rings and a gold diamond engagement ring.

Read more: COVID-19 travel ban sees release of Coniston man accused of having hard-core child porn

A neighbour claims he saw a man walk out of the house, later describing the alleged intruder as Caucasian, about six-foot tall, medium build, aged in is 30s to 40s, clean shaven with short dark hair wearing a dark top.

Police allege Booth then smashed the kitchen window at the rear of the house on the ground floor, opened the window and went into the home again to steal $5.50 in coins.

Police arrived and allegedly saw Booth through the window. The officer described the intruder as Caucasian with short dark hair wearing a black jacket. But by the time the police climbed the back fence to get into the yard, Booth had allegedly left.

A police dog was used to track the intruder's scent to an open garage of a house down the road where officers found a pairs of brown black gloves, a screw driver and a mobile phone.

The jewellery and coins were also found inside as well as a black jacket hidden in the front yard.

A short time later, another neighbour on the street claims she saw a man, allegedly Booth, walk through the front yard and up to her garden tap. He turned it on to wash his hands and face before walking down the street.

Police soon found and arrested an exhausted, sweaty and muddy Booth.

Police allege Booth told them he did not break into any houses and had driven to the area, ran out of fuel and walked to Fairy Meadow to borrow $5 from his brother, and was walking back to his car when police spotted him.

Booth allegedly told police his car was in the area, however, officers could not find it.

He allegedly claimed to only have the clothes he was wearing however later told police he had a jacket but must have dropped it.

Booth was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with break and enter a house to steal, where his DNA was also taken.

In court on Thursday, Booth's Aboriginal Legal Service lawyer Lemar Miakhel said his client needed to be released to look after his children, one of whom had down syndrome. He said Booth was in a training employment program, was seeking treatment for drug use and counselling.

Mr Miakhel submitted the prosecution case was not strong as it would rely on the positive identification of Booth by witnesses.

Magistrate Jillian Kiely refused to release Booth as he was on already parole for another offence of break and enter and bail for domestic violence charges.

The case was adjourned to May 5.