A Salisbury Downs man will face court on Monday, after he was arrested over the robberies yesterday on a gift shop at Blackwood and an upholstery business at Onkaparinga Hills, according to SA Police.
Police will allege just after 3pm on Friday 26 May, a man entered a florist on Main Road, Blackwood, allegedly threatened a woman employee and demanded cash. He stole an amount of money and ran from the shop towards a nearby hardware store when he had a car waiting.
Then just before 4.30pm yesterday, the same person allegedly threatened a man and robbed an upholstery business on Upper Penneys Hill Road, Onkaparinga Hills.
The suspect left both stores in a stolen white 2000 Nissan station wagon, which was later found abandoned at Hackham West.
Just after 1pm on Saturday 27 May, a police patrol stopped a man fitting the description of the robbery suspect walking near the Southern Expressway at Hackham West. A search of the man's backpack uncovered a black handled knife, gloves, pliers and a screwdriver.
The 29-year-old man from Salisbury Downs was then arrested for carrying an offensive and South Coast CIB were advised as to the similarity of the suspect with the recent robberies.
Further enquiries by South Coast CIB Detectives which included checking CCTV and the suspect's clothing, resulted in the arrested man being further charged with aggravated robbery and attempt aggravated robbery from yesterday's incidents at Blackwood and Onkaparinga Hills. The man also faces charges of illegal use of a motor vehicle and and theft of petrol.
He was refused police bail and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Monday 29 May
