Two men have been charged with stealing precious gems from a shop in Coober Pedy, an outback town often described as the opal capital of the world.
The South Australian small business was broken into over the long weekend and opals, cash and jewellery were stolen from a safe.
The owners were still working through what was swiped but opals worth hundreds of thousands of dollars were included in the haul.
Police are yet to recover the stolen items.
Matthew Peter Riessen, 33, and Sebastian Peter Wayne Roesch, 22, appeared at Port Augusta Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass, property damage and theft.
They did not enter pleas.
The men were released on bail to reappear on September 25.
Police are looking to locate other people suspected of being involved in the heist.
Locals with knowledge of the theft or attempts to sell the stolen goods have been urged to contact police.
The town, 850km north of Adelaide, is hosting the 35th annual Coober Pedy Opal Festival from June 15 to 16.
