Police are appealing for public assistance following an aggravated robbery and police pursuit in West Kempsey overnight.
About 8pm (Monday 5 July 2021), a 79-year-old man was inside a home on Warwick Avenue when he answered a knock at the door.
Police have been told five people – one armed with a large knife – threatened the elderly man and demanded his car keys.
The man complied before the group fled in a silver Toyota Hilux.
The 79-year-old was uninjured during the incident.
About 15 minutes later, officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District Proactive Crime Team were conducting patrols of the South Kempsey area when they observed a silver Toyota Hilux accelerate at speed upon sighting police.
Police activated all warning signals and attempted to stop the vehicle on Middleton Street; however, the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.
The Hilux continued through a number of streets allegedly reaching speeds of more than 110km/h in a sign-posted 80km/h zone, before turning onto the Pacific Motorway and the Macleay Valley Way at Frederickton.
The vehicle continued through Frederickton at speed before police terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns.
A short time later, officers located the Hilux abandoned after it crashed into a fence on Leith Street, West Kempsey.
Local officers were notified of the aggravated robbery and established a crime scene.
An investigation into both incidents has now been launched and as inquiries continue, police would like to speak to five people who may be able to assist them.
The armed man is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait appearance, aged in his late teens to early 20s, between 165cm to 170cm tall, of a solid build and wearing dark clothing. His face was also covered.
The other four persons – believed to be three men and one woman – are described as being aged in their late teens and early 20s.
Police are urging anyone who may have either dashcam footage or CCTV from the Kempsey and Frederickton areas between 8pm and 9pm or who may have information which could assist detectives to contact Kempsey Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anyone with information about this incident 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.
