Two teenage boys will face court charged over a series of alleged armed robberies, NSW Police say.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Marril to investigate a series of armed robberies at service stations last month.
On Tuesday 2 January 2018, three males entered a service station at Kings Langley and threatened the male attendant with a shortened firearm and a sword; demanding cash.
During the incident, the attendant was allegedly struck with the sword, which partially severed his thumb.
On Wednesday 3 January 2018, a service station attendant at Toongabbie was approached by three males armed with a shortened firearm and a bladed weapon, who demanded cash.
On Monday 8 January 2018, three males threatened the attendant with a shortened firearm and a bladed weapon at a service station at North Ryde, demanding cash.
In each incident, the group allegedly stole cash and other goods before running from the store.
Strike force investigators were also conducting inquiries into a series of armed robberies on Saturday 10 February 2018, where a Toyota Prius was seen driving from the scenes.
Their inquiries revealed the Prius was allegedly stolen during an armed carjacking at Lane Cove on Friday 9 February 2018.
As part of ongoing investigations, strike force detectives responded following reports of armed robbery at a convenience store on Mowbray Road, Lane Cove, about 8.40pm yesterday (Friday 16 February 2018).
Police from North Shore Police Area Command attended and were told two males entered the store, threatened the 59-year-old owner with a shortened firearm and a machete, and demanded cash.
The pair allegedly stole cash, cigarettes, and other items before running from the store.
Witnesses reported seeing the males fleeing from the scene in a red Toyota Prius.
Just after 9pm (Friday 16 February 2018), officers from the Tactical Operations Unit arrested two teenage boys during a vehicle stop on St George Crescent, Drummoyne.
The teens were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics for minor injuries and taken to hospital for observation.
During a search of the vehicle, strike force investigators located a firearm, three bladed-weapons, including a machete and a sword; cash, and items believed to be stolen.
Shortly after the arrests, Strike Force Marril investigators executed search warrants at homes at Croydon and Five Dock, where they seized items relevant to the investigation.
Following release from hospital, the 17-year-old boy was charged with break and enter house, robbery armed with offensive weapon cause wounding, three counts of in company rob while armed with dangerous weapon, three counts of drive conveyance taken without consent of owner and, aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it – inflict actual bodily harm
He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court today (Saturday 17 February 2018).
The 15-year-old boy remains under police guard at hospital, and has been charged with robbery armed with offensive weapon cause wounding – grievous bodily harm, three counts of in company rob while armed with dangerous weapon, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and, aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it – inflict actual bodily harm.
It is expected he will have a bedside court hearing at a later stage.
Investigations into the armed robberies are continuing, and further arrests are expected.
Police are urging anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Marril investigators to call Crime Stoppers.
