Two men have been charged after two employees were allegedly detained during an armed robbery at a business in Sydney's north-west earlier this week.
About 8pm on Tuesday (5 January 2021), three men – armed with knives – entered a business at Betty Cuthbert Avenue, Ermington.
The men allegedly threatened two male employees – aged 20 and 34 – before demanding cash and physically assaulting the older staff member.
Both employees were then detained and bound, before the group allegedly stole cash and left the area.
Emergency services were contacted a short time later after a customer located the men and rendered assistance.
The younger man was treated at the scene, while the older man was taken to Westmead Hospital with head injuries.
Officers from Cumberland Police Area Command, with assistance from the State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, commenced inquiries into the incident.
Following extensive investigations, Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives, with assistance from Bass Hill Region Enforcement Squad, executed search warrants at homes at Bankstown and Bardia from 7am yesterday (Friday 8 January 2021).
During the searches, officers seized a number of items relevant to the investigation.
Two men – aged 19 and 21 – were arrested during the operation and taken to Liverpool Police Station.
The younger man was charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence, commit s114 offence (having previous conviction), police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly, unlicensed for Class (Class C, R, LR or MR), steal motor vehicle, two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon and two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
The older man was charged with two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon and three counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
Police will allege in court that the men were involved in the armed robbery at the Ermington business earlier this week.
It will also be alleged that the men were involved in an armed robbery at a telecommunications store at Dampier Place, Prestons, in November last year.
They were both refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today (Saturday 9 January 2021).
Investigations are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist detectives 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.
