PLEASE NOTE: CCTV footage of two men who may be able to assist police with inquiries is available via Hightail link – https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/RitvOjVyNl
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have released CCTV footage as they continue to investigate an armed robbery on the Mid North Coast last year, that left two men injured.
About 8.15pm (Sunday 25 July 2021), a 67-year-old male employee was inside a bowling club on Combined Street, Wingham, when three men – allegedly armed with knives and a samurai sword – entered the club.
Two of the men demanded cash from the employee, while a third man approached a 43-year-old male patron and allegedly threatened him with a sword; the patron was able to wrestle the weapon from the armed man.
All three men fled the scene in an allegedly stolen Volkswagen Tiguan, later located on fire in Kalimna Close, Taree. NSW Fire and Rescue extinguished the blaze and the vehicle was seized for forensic examination.
The employee and patron received minor hand injuries and were taken to Manning Base Hospital for treatment. They have since been released.
Initial inquiries were conducted by Manning-Great Lakes Police District, before detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Savery.
During the investigation, strike force detectives arrested a 35-year-old man, who remains before the courts.
As inquiries continue, investigators have released CCTV footage from the bowling club of two men who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The first man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm tall, wearing a black hooded jumper, black trackpants with white writing on the left leg, a black mask, and dark-coloured shoes with white soles.
The second man is about 165cm tall, and at the time he was wearing a white hooded jumper with face-covering mask, black pants, black gloves, white shoes and was carrying a black backpack with white writing.
As investigations continue, police are urging anyone who may have dashcam footage from the surrounding area between 8pm and 8.30pm, or who may have seen or heard anything, to contact Taree Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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.
