Axe used to threaten shop staff, man charged at Lake Illawarra, NSW

A man has been charged after allegedly threatening staff with an axe at a supermarket in the state’s Illawarra yesterday.

About 9.50am (Monday 4 April 2022), police were called to a supermarket on Winnema Way, Berkeley, following reports a man had threatened staff with an axe.

Police have been told the man entered the supermarket and purchased items before he allegedly became verbally abusive towards three employees – two women and a man – before leaving and returning to the store armed with an axe.

He allegedly threatened the staff members again before leaving in an SUV.

Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District commenced an investigation, and following inquiries, attended a home on Murrah Close, Flinders, where they arrested a 20-year-old man and seized an axe.

He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station, where he was charged with custody of an offensive implement in a public place, and three counts of stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal).

The Flinders man was refused bail to appear in Wollongong Local Court today (Tuesday 5 April 2022).

/Public Release. View in full here.