Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged two men and are appealing to the public to help identify a third following the alleged armed robbery of a Mid North Coast hotel earlier this year.
About 10.25pm Saturday 20 January 2024, emergency services were called to a licensed premises on Ocean Drive, Kew, following reports of an armed robbery.
Officers attached to Mid North Coast Police District were told three males had allegedly broken in and threatened staff with bladed weapons before leaving with cash.
No one was injured and police established a crime scene.
Detectives attached to State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Sandler to investigate the incident.
During the investigation, detectives located the getaway car involved in the robbery – an allegedly stolen blue Subaru WRX sedan with the NSW registration DLV62B – in bushland near Port Macquarie Airport.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested two men – aged 30 and 31 years old – at Kempsey Police Station Wednesday 28 August 2024.
They were both charged with aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence people there, steal motor vehicle and robbery in company.
The two men were refused bail to appear before Kempsey Local Court the same day.
As investigations continue detectives are appealing to the public to identify a third man involved in the alleged robbery.
The man was the front seat passenger of the vehicle before the time of the alleged robbery.
Anyone with information into his whereabouts or dashcam vision of the car at the time of the incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Investigations under Strike Force Sandler continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators 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.
