Carl Lawrence facing kidnapping and robbery charges after alleged carpark abduction

Police allege a 29-year-old man kidnapped another man after they met in a fast food restaurant’s carpark over a smartwatch sale.

A 29-year-old man is facing kidnapping and aggravated robbery charges after a carpark smartwatch sale allegedly went wrong.

Carl Lawrence appeared in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday charged over an alleged kidnapping and aggravated robbery.

Carl Lawrence, 29, was taken to Wollongong police station where he was charged. Picture: Google

The charges follow an incident which began around 10pm on 21 December, when a 35-year-old man allegedly met Carl Lawrence in a carpark of a fast food restaurant in Fairy Meadow.

Police allege the man had arranged to meet Mr Lawrence to purchase a smartwatch and when the 35-year-old man left the carpark to finalise the deal Mr Lawrence, 29, held him against his will and robbed of cash, two laptops, a mobile phone and credit cards over several hours across several locations, including Mangerton and Appin.

The 35-year-old was not physically injured and alerted police with officers attached to the Wollongong Police District starting an investigation.

After extensive inquiries, police attended a Weemala St home, in Koonawarra, about 8.15am on Tuesday morning.

Mr Lawrence was arrested and taken to Wollongong police station where he was charged with two serious indictable offences including taking/detaining a person in company with the intent to obtain advantage and aggravated robbery.

He will did not apply for bail and it was formally refused.

He is due to face Wollongong Local Court again on March 2.