Investigators have charged a man as inquiries continue into three separate armed robberies at businesses across Sydney's inner and south-west earlier this year.
Detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Profert to investigate three alleged armed robberies at businesses in Canterbury, Hurlstone Park and Wiley Park on Sunday 3 January 2021 and Monday 4 January 2021.
The incidents include –
- About 4.40am on Sunday 3 January 2021, three men – armed with knives and a firearm – entered a licenced premise at the intersection of Canterbury Road and Tincomb Street, Canterbury. The men threatened employees and patrons, before stealing cash from a number of poker machines and fleeing the area. Officers from Burwood Police Area Command were contacted and conducted initial inquiries. The employee was not physically injured during the incident.
- About 2.40am on Monday 4 January 2021, a man – armed with a firearm – entered a convenience store at New Canterbury Road at Hurlstone Park. The man threatened an employee before stealing cash and cigarettes and fleeing the area. Officers from Burwood Police Area Command were contacted and conducted initial inquiries. The employee was not physically injured during the incident.
- Just after 7am on Monday 4 January 2021, two men – armed with a knife and a firearm – entered a service station at Punchbowl Road, Wiley Park. The men threatened a 45-year-old male employee, before stealing cash and cigarettes. The men also took the employee's watch, before returning it, and leaving the area. Officers from Campsie Police Area Command were contacted and conducted initial inquiries. The employee was not physically injured during the incident.
Following the release of CCTV, a public appeal for information and extensive investigations, strike force detectives, with assistance from the Tactical Operations Unit (TOU), executed a search warrant at a home at Coffs Harbour, from 7am today (Friday 5 February 2021).
A 30-year-old Glebe man was arrested at the home and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.
A short time later, a second search warrant was executed at a home at Glebe.
The man was charged with three counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, three counts of acquire pistol subject to firearms prohibition order, take/detain person in company with/intent to obtain advantage and deal with property proceeds of crime.
He was refused bail to appear at Port Macquarie Bail Court tomorrow (Saturday 6 February 2021).
Investigations under Strike Force Profert are continuing, and further arrests are expected.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Profert investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
