Police have charged three men following a series of robberies committed across Sydney, NSW Police say.
Strike Force Culch, comprised of officers from the Metropolitan Robbery Unit, was established in April 2014 to investigate a series of armed robberies across Sydney which culminated in arrests today.
Further details of the armed robberies include:
- a hotel in St George on Wednesday16 April 2014;
- a hotel in Bexley on Thursday 17 April 2014;
- a hotel in Mortdale on Monday 2 June 2014;
- a hotel in Fairfield on Wednesday 4 June 2014;
- a hotel in South Hurstville on Friday 27 June 2014;
- a hotel in the Sydney CBD on Saturday 26 July 2014;
- a licensed club in Rockdale on Thursday 31 July 2014;
- a hotel in Fairfield on Friday 15 August 2014; and,
- a hotel in St George on Sunday 7 July 2016.
Police will allege in court that the incidents involved two or three armed offenders who entered the premises’ armed with some form of weapon.
About 9.30am on Thursday 28 August 2014, police from St George Local Area Command were called to a shop on Kingsgrove Road at Kingsgrove, after reports shots had been fired at the location.
Investigators were told by witnesses the shots were fired by a man from a passing car.
No one was injured in the shooting.
A short time later the car, a grey 2008 Audi station wagon, was found with partial fire-damage in a nearby street. Officers also recovered firearms from inside the vehicle.
Police will allege the same vehicle was also utilised during the series of armed robberies.
Strike Force Culch previously arrested three men in relation to these robberies.
About 10am today, Police attached to the Metropolitan Robbery Unit arrested a 22-year old man, and two 25-year-old men at a correctional centre, they were taken to a New South Wales Police Force Station within Sydney
The younger man was charged with robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon.
A 25-year-old man was charged with six counts of armed robbery, two accounts of aggravated break.
A second 25-year-old man was charged with seven counts of armed robbery, two accounts of aggravated break and enter and discharging a firearm into a house with disregard to public safety.
All three men will remain in custody and appear before Central Local Court on Thursday 8 September 2016.
