Man charged after four alleged armed robberies

A man has been charged as part of investigations into several armed robberies in the Lake Macquarie area earlier this year.

Strike Force Woonooka was established by Lake Macquarie detectives to investigate five armed robberies at various service stations in the local area, which occurred between Thursday 10 June 2021 and Saturday 31 July 2021.

Following extensive inquiries, strike force investigators executed a search warrant at a property on Thompson Street, Belmont South, about 12.30pm yesterday (Thursday 9 September 2021), where they arrested a 30-year-old man.

During the search, police seized a mobile phone and several kitchen knives.

The man was taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with four counts of robbery armed with offensive weapon, and armed with intent commit indictable offence.

Police will allege in court the man was involved in armed robberies that occurred at a service station on Main Road in Cardiff on Thursday 10 June 2021 and Friday 9 July 2021, a service station on Main Road in Edgeworth on Saturday 12 June 2021, a service station on Collier Street in Redhead on Thursday 22 July 2021, and a service station on Warners Bay Road in Warners Bay on Saturday 31 July 2021.

He was refused bail to appear in Belmont Local Court today (Friday 10 September 2021).

A 28-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were previously arrested and charged over their alleged roles in the robberies. They remain before the courts.

Investigations under Strike Force Woonooka are continuing.