Ross McCarty charged with ninth historic bank robbery

A man arrested over a string of historic bank robberies in Sydney in the 1970s is in court again today, after investigators charged over a ninth robbery.

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A retiree charged last year over a string of unsolved bank robberies in the 1970s again faced court today, after investigators added a ninth charge against him.

Ross Oliver McCarty, 69, was arrested on December 20 following an investigation into eight robberies at banks in Sydney’s CBD and Chatswood between 1977 and 1978.

Strike force detectives arrest a man over historic Sydney bank robberies in December 2018.

The State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Pats, who tracked down McCarty to a unit on New South Head Rd, Edgecliff, 40 years after the alleged crimes.

On Tuesday it was revealed police had also charged the Edgecliff man with a ninth heist, this time at the ANZ bank on the corner of George and Liverpool streets in the CBD on May 12, 1977.

Police have alleged in court that McCarty handed threatening notes to tellers before stealing cash at the banks.

He has been on strict conditional bail.

Court documents reveal the nine alleged robberies took place between May 1977 and March 1978, coming in the suburbs of Sydney, Ultimo, Haymarket and one in Chatswood.

In the documents police allege McCarty stole a total of $12,693 over the course of those nine incidents.

McCarty was granted strict conditional bail when he fronted Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday.

Investigations under Strike Force Pats continue.