Makeshift gun, crowbar used in armed hold up at Townsville pub
Witnesses detail the terrifying moment robbers were caught beating a man with a crowbar during an armed hold up at a Townsville pub.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Hotelier responds to fall that left teen critical
- Robbers on the run after taking off with cash, assaulting patron
Witnesses detail the terrifying moment robbers were caught beating a man with a crowbar during an armed hold up at a Townsville pub.
Just a few houses up the road, Jacinta Hoffman was woken by her two dogs barking as the mayhem unfolded on the corner of Stagpole and Sidney Street.
She said the panicked screaming and sounds of breaking glass made her think it was a car crash prompting her and her partner to call emergency services and run down to help.
“They must have backed up (in their car and they smashed the doors in,” Ms Hoffman said.
“Trent yelled out and must have spooked them and they took off screaming down the street with the headlights off.
“There was a fella laying on the ground inside and blood everywhere after they bashed him with a crowbar.”
Speaking to the Bulletin from outside the hotel on Sunday, Ms Hoffman said she was even more shocked by the ordeal after learning that the offenders were in fact returning to retrieve their partner in crime who remained inside.
Patched up with wood, the entrance doors were completely removed from their casing during the attack.
Townsville Police District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Matt Lyons said a female staff member serving behind the bar was forced to hand over cash when the two men first entered the front bar area.
After the initial shock, a scuffle broke out when a patron challenged the robber in an attempt to disarm him, knocking the make shift weapon from him and holding him down unable to move, Snr Sgt Lyons said.
“The other offender has left the hotel (and) a short time later that male has returned and assaulted a patron with another weapon before both offenders have left the hotel in a Black Holden Commodore,” Snr Sgt Lyons said.
“The patron that was assaulted received a laceration to his head and transported to Townsville University Hospital in a stable condition.”
While Snr Sgt Lyons did not condone members of the public attempting a citizen arrest or intervening in a volatile situation, he said it was likely the patron identified the firearm was not legitimate.
“We’re certainly not saying it’s a gel blaster, it was more likely parts of firearms that were made to look like a weapon,” Snr Sgt Lyons said.
“That also shows a level of planning by the offender.
“The intervention of the patrons probably prevented further money being stolen but it also put them in a predicament where they were assaulted and we would just encourage people to be cautious.”
A burnt our car, suspected to be the one used to flee the crime scene was found by police shortly after 2am in Idalia.
Snr Sgt Lyons said residents, particularly those surrounding Springbrook Parade are encouraged to hand over any footage of people in the area filmed from 1.30am onwards to assist.
Snr Sgt Lyons said the Townsville Criminal Investigation Branch has been tasked with the incident and were conducting inquiries and reviewing CCTV footage.
He said the neighbourhood horror wasn’t being taken lightly with QPS asking any one who may have information to contact them directly or call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
“Patrons and witnesses present have spoken in what could be described as a hysteria event for them,” Snr Sgt Lyons said.
“And certainly we will use all avenues to investigate this matter and bring offenders to justice.”
Originally published as Makeshift gun, crowbar used in armed hold up at Townsville pub