Robbery & Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged two men over a number of alleged armed hold ups at licenced premises across Sydney and the Mid North Coast.
About 10.20am Monday 26 August 2024, officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Commend attended a licenced premises on Curtain Crescent in Maroubra following reports of an attempted armed hold up. On arrival police were told an unknown man – armed with a firearm – entered the hotel before fleeing the scene.
The next day (Tuesday 27 August 2024), at 1.10am, officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command were called to a licenced premises on New Canterbury Road in Petersham where they were told two men – both armed with firearms – demanded cash and fired a shot at the door before fleeing the scene with approximately $5,000.
That same day, officers attached to Leichhardt Police Area Command received information a number of unknown offenders had attempted to gain access to a licenced premises on Young Street in Annadale; however, were unsuccessful.
On Sunday 1 September 2024, officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command received another report of up to five offenders attempting to gain access to the same licenced premises on Curtain Crescent in Maroubra as the previous month; however, were unsuccessful.
That same day, about 10.25pm, officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command were called to a hotel on Botany Street in Banksmeadow where they were told a group of unknown offenders – three armed with firearms – forced staff to handover cash. The men fled the scene with approximately $15,000.
About 1am on Tuesday 24 September 2024, officers attached to Burwood Police Area Command were called to a hotel on Canterbury Road in Canterbury, where they were told two offenders – both armed with firearms – threatened staff and patrons before fleeing with $100,000 in cash.
About 1.45am on Sunday 29 September 2024, officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District were called to a hotel on Moonee Beach Road at Moonee Beach following reports of an armed hold up. Police were told two men – both armed with firearms – threatened patrons to the ground and forced staff to handover cash. The men fled with approximately $80,000.
About 1.45am on Friday 18 October 2024, officers from Bankstown Police Area Command responded to reports of an armed robbery at a hotel on the corner of Anderson Avenue and Braesmere Road at Panania. Police were told that two men – one armed with a shotgun and the other with a pistol – entered the hotel and threatened staff and patrons, before fleeing the scene with approximately $35,000.
Detectives attached to State Crime Command's Robbery & Serious Crime Squad took carriage of the matters and established Strike Force Greenville to investigate.
Following extensive inquiries, about 2.30am yesterday (Friday 25 October 2024), strike force detectives – with assistance from the Tactical Operations Unit – arrested two men, aged 56 and 45, on Reeve Street in Waterloo.
A search of the men discovered they were carrying balaclavas and other items consistent with allegedly preparing to execute another armed hold up.
The 56-year-old man was taken to hospital for injuries sustained during the arrest, before both men were taken to Mascot Police Station.
The older man was charged with eleven offences including six counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, two counts of armed with intent commit indictable offence, fire firearm in or near public place, and two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 26 October 2024).
The younger man was charged with eight offences including three counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, armed with intent commit indictable offence, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, deal with property proceeds of crime <$100000 & <$5000, shoplifting and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 26 October 2024).
About 8.20am, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at the Waterloo unit, where police located and seized clothing relevant to their investigation and cloned plates.
Investigations under Strike Force Greenville continue.
