Detectives have charged two men as part of an ongoing investigation into three armed robberies across Sydney’s inner west last month.
About 11.30pm on Wednesday 15 January 2020, police were called to Parramatta Road, Annandale, following reports a man had been injured during an armed robbery.
Police were told two men – one armed with a large knife and another with a baseball bat – entered the business, assaulted a 31-year-old man, and took cash and the keys to a white Toyota Rav4 before fleeing.
The injured man was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital for treatment to non-life-threatening injuries and has since been released.
While the man was receiving treatment, the Toyota Rav4 was stolen.
In a second incident, officers were called to a business on East Street, Five Dock, about 3.30pm on Friday 17 January 2020, following reports of an armed robbery.
Two men allegedly entered the business and threatened three staff members with a machete and an axe, before stealing cash and leaving the area.
No one was physically injured during the incident.
In a third incident, officers were called to a fast-food restaurant on Parramatta Road, Croydon, about 2am on Tuesday 21 January 2020, following reports two men armed with knives, entered the store and threatened six employees.
The men stole cash before leaving the scene in a white Toyota Rav4.
No one was physically injured during the incident.
Initial inquiries were conducted by local police before detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad took carriage of the investigations under Strike Force Murnin.
Following extensive investigations, officers from the Tactical Operations Unit arrested two men after a short foot pursuit at Cavendish Street, Stanmore, about 9.30pm yesterday (Wednesday 5 February 2020).
Officers searched the men – aged 26 and 24 – and seized car keys from a Mercedes Benz, which was allegedly stolen during a break-in at Clovelly earlier this week. The vehicle was located nearby and seized for forensic examination.
A short time later, strike force detectives executed three search warrants at homes in Maroubra, Stanmore and Darlington.
During the searches, officers seized a machete, an axe, and a second stolen motor vehicle – a Toyota Rav4. The items will undergo forensic examinations.
The men were taken to Newtown Police Station where the older man was charged with 17 offences including;
- Robbery armed with offensive weapon (x3)
- Steal motor vehicle
- Larceny
- Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous (x2)
- Drive while licence cancelled (x6)
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed (x2)
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen
- Possess implements to enter/drive conveyance
Police will allege in court that the older man was involved in three armed robberies between 15 and 21 January 2020.
The younger man was charged with two counts of possess implements to enter/drive conveyance.
The pair were refused bail to appear at Newtown Local Court today (Thursday 6 February 2020).
Investigations under Strike Force Murnin are continuing and further arrests are expected.
Police are urging anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Murnin detectives to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our social media pages.
