A man will face court today charged over two armed robberies at Lake Illawarra this week.
Just before 7.30pm on Wednesday (17 November 2021), a man, armed with an axe, entered a grocery store on Wattle Road, Flinders, and allegedly threatened staff before fleeing with cash from the register.
Officers attached to Lake Illawarra Police District were notified and established a crime scene.
Police were notified of a second incident after a man, armed with an axe, entered a fast-food restaurant on College Street, Shellharbour, just before 10pm that evening.
He allegedly threatened a male employee, demanding cash before fleeing in a vehicle.
Detectives commenced an investigation into both incidents, that are believed to be linked.
Following inquiries, investigators arrested a 25-year-old man after stopping a vehicle at Albion Park about 10.30am yesterday (Thursday 18 November 2021).
He was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station and a search warrant was subsequently executed at a home in Albion Park where an axe, cash and clothing relevant to the investigation were seized.
The man was charged with two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon.
He was also charged with take/detain in company with intent to get advantage occasion actual bodily harm, dispose property – theft, and make/furnish a statement which is false/misleading in relation to an alleged break in at a Shellharbour home on Monday 8 November 2021.
The Albion Park man was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court today (Friday 19 November 2021).
