Detectives have charged four men after a truck driver was allegedly robbed, assaulted and shot twice in the leg, near Lithgow earlier this year.
About 5am on Tuesday 29 September 2020, emergency services were called to the Great Western Highway at Mount Lambie, following reports a truck driver had been shot.
Police were told that the truck driver – a 42-year-old Western Australian man – had been sleeping in the vehicle, when a group of unknown men forced entry to the cabin.
The men allegedly assaulted the truck driver, dragged him from the vehicle and shot him twice in his right upper thigh and right foot.
The group then stole personal items – including a large quantity of cash – from the truck, before fleeing the area in other vehicles.
The truck driver was treated at the scene by paramedics, before being taken to Lithgow Hospital. He was then airlifted to Westmead Hospital, where he underwent surgery and has since been released.
Officers from Chifley Police District commenced inquiries into the incident, before detectives from the State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Hathern.
Following extensive inquires and a public appeal for information, strike force detectives executed a crime scene warrant at a property at Luddenham and six search warrants at homes at Campbelltown, Ambarvale, Wollongong, Bradbury and Mount Annan from 6am today (Thursday 3 December 2020).
Detectives were assisted throughout the operation by officers from Camden, Campbelltown and Nepean Police Area Commands, Lake Illawarra Police District, North-West Metropolitan Operations Support Group (OSG), Southern Region OSG and Strike Force Raptor.
During the searches, investigators seized mobile phones, electronic storage devices, and prohibited drugs.
Two vehicles – a silver 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer and a white 2016 Volkswagen Amarok – were seized from the Luddenham property and will undergo further forensic examination.
A 30-year-old man was arrested at a home in Smeaton Grange and taken to Campbelltown Police Station, along with a 28-year-old Campbelltown man and a 23-year-old Bradbury man.
A 29-year-old man was also arrested at a Wollongong home and taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.
The men were all charged with kidnap in company with intent to commit serious indictable occasion actual bodily harm, robbery in company cause wounding/grievous bodily harm, discharge firearm intend cause grievous bodily harm, and participate criminal group contribute criminal activity.
The Sydney men appeared at Campbelltown Local Court today (Thursday 3 December 2020), and were formally refused bail to appear at the same court on Wednesday (9 December 2020).
The Wollongong man was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court today (Thursday 3 December 2020).
