New South Wales detectives have cracked a series of armed robberies spanning from Newcastle to Western Sydney after forensic links identified a common handgun and getaway car used in all incidents. Three men now face serious charges following the coordinated police operation.
Four Hold-Ups in Four Days
The crime spree began in the Hunter region. On Monday, January 5, about 8am, two men, allegedly armed with a handgun, entered a licensed premises on Station Street in Waratah. They demanded cash from an employee before fleeing on foot.
The pattern continued in Sydney's west two days later. On Wednesday, January 7, around 1pm, a man entered a pawn shop on Artillery Crescent in Seven Hills, also allegedly brandishing a handgun. He demanded cash and jewellery, but left empty-handed after the employee refused.
The brazen attacks escalated the following day. In the early hours of Thursday, January 8, about 2am, two men targeted a convenience store on Murray Street in Pyrmont. Armed with a handgun, they demanded cash and successfully fled the scene with a safe.
Later that same day, at approximately 4:45pm, a man entered a convenience store at Kingswood Train Station. The armed demand for cash was again refused by the employee, and the offender left without proceeds.
The Critical Break in the Case
While local police initially investigated each robbery separately, a crucial breakthrough came when forensic and intelligence work established a definitive link. Investigators determined that the same handgun and a dark-coloured Holden sedan were used in each of the four incidents.
This discovery prompted the State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad to take over the investigation, establishing Strike Force Dudley to pursue the organised group.
Strike Force Makes Multiple Arrests
The strike force's extensive inquiries led to a series of arrests over the following days. On Sunday, January 11, about 2pm, detectives arrested a 36-year-old man at a hotel on Main Street in Blacktown. He was taken to Blacktown Police Station.
A short time later, with assistance from the Public Order and Riot Squad, police executed a search warrant at a home in Wilberforce. During the search, detectives allegedly located the dark-coloured Holden sedan, mobile phones, and other items believed to be used in the robberies.
The 36-year-old man was charged with robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon and two counts of robbery in company while armed with a dangerous weapon, relating to the incidents in Waratah, Seven Hills, and Pyrmont. He was refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Friday, March 6.
The investigation continued. On Monday, January 12, around 4:10pm, strike force detectives arrested a 27-year-old man on Castlereagh Road in North Penrith. He was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence and possessing a prohibited drug in relation to the Waratah and Pyrmont incidents.
Later that evening, about 8:20pm, police conducted another search warrant, this time at a home on Joseph Street in Kingswood, again with Public Order and Riot Squad support. Clothing, CCTV equipment, and jewellery were allegedly seized.
A 35-year-old man was arrested at the scene and charged with assault with intent to rob, robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon, and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order direction, specifically for the Kingswood incident.
Both the 27-year-old and 35-year-old men were refused bail and are scheduled to appear at Penrith Local Court on Tuesday.
The coordinated police response highlights the effectiveness of cross-regional collaboration in tackling serious and organised crime operations that span multiple districts.
