Detectives have charged two teenagers with two armed robberies at a service station in Sydney’s south-west over the past three weeks in which staff where threatened with a machete and hand saw.
Police say that at around 8.40pm on December 18, two men – armed with a hand saw and a machete – entered a service station on Ballantrae Drive, St Andrews, and allegedly threatened a male employee.
“The men stole cash before leaving the area on foot. In a second incident, two men – armed with a hammer and a knife – entered the same service station on Ballantrae Drive, St Andrews, about 10pm on January 2,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“One man allegedly used a hammer to smash several display cabinets in the service station, while the second allegedly threatened two employees.”
The pair stole cigarettes and cash before leaving the scene in a grey vehicle.
“Officers from Campbelltown City Police Area Command, together with detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, commenced inquiries into the incidents, which are believed to be targeted and linked.”
“As part of ongoing inquiries, detectives located a grey Hyundai i30 at a home at Macquarie Fields about 9.30pm on Sunday. The vehicle was seized and will undergo forensic examination.
“Following further investigations, detectives arrested a 19-year-old man at a home at Rosemeadow at 1pm and a 17-year-old boy at a home at Minto at 2.30pm on Monday.
“A short time later, police conducted searches at the homes and seized a knife, hammer and hand saw.”
The teenagers were taken to Campbelltown Police Station, where they were both charged with two counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon.
The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court yesterday. The boy was also refused bail to appear at a children’s court today.
Inquiries into the incidents are continuing.Anyone with information that may assist detectives is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
