Detectives have charged a teenager following an investigation into 10 armed robberies across Sydney's west.
Strike Force Rigil, comprising officers from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, was established to investigate the incidents last month.
About 5am on Friday 10 May 2019, two males, driving a stolen Mazda CX 5, stopped in front of a 42-year-old woman on Bridge Road at Westmead.
The males jumped out of the car and threatened the woman with a knife before stealing her handbag. The vehicle was recovered later that day in Charles Street, Liverpool.
Just after 1am on Sunday 12 May 2019, an Audi Q5 SUV was stolen from a home in South Wentworthville.
About 4am on Monday 13 May 2019, a 53-year-old man was walking on Bungaree Road, Toongabbie, when an Audi SUV pulled in front of him.
Three males exited the vehicle and threatened the man before stealing his bag.
Shortly after, the males stopped in front of a 29-year-old man in Marsden Street, Parramatta, and assaulted him before stealing his bag.
Just after 4.20am, the vehicle stopped in front of a 43-year-old woman on Hassell Street, Parramatta, where two males exited the car and threatened her with a knife, before stealing her handbag.
Shortly after, a 60-year-old woman was threatened by one male, who exited an Audi Q5 SUV, and pushed in the chest before he stole her bag on Isabella Street, North Parramatta.
The males, driving the Audi, stopped in front of a 59-year-old woman in Coleman Street, Merrylands, before pushing her in the chest and stealing her handbag about 4.40am.
About 4.50am, a 53-year-old man was walking on Alexandra Avenue at Westmead, towards Westmead Railway Station, when the Audi Q5 SUV stopped in front of him.
Two males jumped out of the car and threatened him with a firearm before stealing his bag.
The SUV was later found abandoned in Greystanes on the 13 May 2019.
On Monday 27 May 2019, a Toyota Kluger SUV was stolen from a driveway outside a home in Collaroy.
About 8.50pm that day, the SUV stopped in front of a 46-year-old woman and two males jumped out, threatened a woman with a firearm and stole her handbag in Argyle Street, Parramatta.
About 9.15pm, near Wentworthville Railway Station, the males threatened and assaulted a 42-year-old woman before they dragged her handbag off her shoulder.
Shortly after, a 29-year-old woman was walking on Junia Avenue, Toongabbie, when she was threatened and struck in the head with a firearm by a group of males before her handbag and mobile phone were stolen.
About 10.30pm, officers from Cumberland Police Area Command attempted to pull over the Toyota Kluger SUV on Burnett Street at Merrylands but the vehicle did not stop.
A police pursuit was initiated but was terminated due to safety reasons.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators arrested a 16-year-old boy at a home in Greystanes about 8am today (Friday 7 June 2019), before he was taken to Granville Police Station.
The teenager was charged with 14 offences, including:
- four counts of robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon,
- three counts of aggravated robbery,
- two counts of robbery in company,
- robbery armed with an offensive weapon,
- two counts of take and drive conveyance without consent of owner,
- be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, and
- police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly.
He was refused bail to appear at a children's court later today.
Investigations under Strike Force Rigil are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Rigil investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
