A man will face court today charged over a series of alleged armed robberies and a shooting in Sydney’s west and inner west over a seven-week period, NSW Police say.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Tintaldra to investigate five armed robberies between late November 2017 and early January 2018 at Canley Vale, Fairfield East, North Strathfield, Strathfield and Wentworthville.
Police will allege in court that in each incident, a man armed with a firearm entered the store, threatened staff and demanded cash.
Police will further allege that during the Wentworthville robbery, a 21-year-old male staff member was involved in an altercation with the armed man. The employee was shot twice before the armed man ran from the store.
The employee underwent surgery but has suffered permanent injuries.
Crime scenes were established at all the locations and examined by specialist forensic officers.
Following extensive inquiries, detectives arrested a 28-year-old man at a construction site at Pagewood just after 9am yesterday (Wednesday 11 April 2018).
He was taken to Maroubra Police Station.
Shortly after the arrest, Strike Force Tintaldra investigators, assisted by South West Metropolitan Region Enforcement Squad, executed three search warrants at homes at Old Guildford.
Police seized a firearm, ammunition, clothing, and other items relevant to the investigation.
The Old Guildford man was charged with four counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, attempted robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, assault with intent to rob armed with offensive weapon wound/grievous bodily harm, discharge firearm intend cause grievous bodily harm, fire firearm manner likely injure persons, use unauthorised pistol, possess unregistered firearm-pistol, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and an outstanding warrant for traffic offences.
He has been refused bail to appear at Waverley Local Court later today (Thursday 12 April 2018).
Inquiries under Strike Force Tintaldra are continuing.
Police are urging anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Tintaldra detectives with their inquiries to call Crime Stoppers.
