Luke Willmott: Man allegedly stole $13k from Palm Beach eatery, Bilgola bottle shop, court hears

One of Sydney’s poshest restaurants was allegedly robbed of $10k by Luke Simon Willmott from the Central Coast. A court heard he also allegedly took $3000 from a nearby bottle shop on the northern beaches.

A man has been charged with walking into historic Barrenjoey House at Palm Beach and walking out with $10,000 in stolen cash. Picture: Manly Daily

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A man walked into one of the northern beaches’ swankiest eateries and allegedly walked out with $10,000 in stolen cash.

Luke Simon Willmott, 41, has appeared in Manly Local Court charged with swiping a cash box from historic Barrenjoey House at Palm Beach.

And police allege Mr Willmott also tried to rob Moby Dick’s restaurant at Whale Beach on the same day — September 9.

Moby Dick's restaurant and function centre, Whale Beach. Picture: Facebook

Mr Willmott, of Gwandalan, on the Central Coast, has also been charged with stealing more than $3000 in cash from a bottle shop on the northern beaches on September 3.

He is yet to enter a plea on two counts of steal property in a dwelling and one count of enter dwelling with intent to steal.

Police allege in documents tendered to court on Monday that between 12.37pm and 12.45pm on September 3, Mr Willmott went into the Bilgola Cellars bottle shop, in Bilambee Ave, Bilgola Plateau and stole a calico bag containing $3110 in cash.

Bilgola Cellars at Bilgola Plateau, where more than $3000 cash was allegedly stolen. Picture: Google Maps

It was also alleged that between 6.50am and 7am on September 9, Mr Willmott entered Moby Dick's, on Whale Beach Rd, with intent to steal.

Then it was alleged that on the same day, between 7.59am and 8.30am, Mr Willmott stole a cashbox from the Barrenjoey House restaurant and guesthouse, containing $10,000.

A bail document tendered to court said all three alleged offences were captured by CCTV security cameras.

Barrenjoey House at Palm Beach. The alleged theft was caught on CCTV. Picture: Manly Daily

Outside court, police said officers from the Northern Beaches Police Proactive Crime Team arrested Mr Willmott as he was leaving his home on September 11.

Officers searched the house and items of property were seized. Police also seized a utility that had been recently purchased.

He appeared in Wyong Local Court and was refused bail and remanded to appear in Manly Local Court.

Mr Willmott, applied for bail, but it was refused. He will be back in Manly Local Court on September 30 for plea or mention.