Man arrested in Everton St and charged with armed robberies at Waratah, Exchange Hotel at Hamilton and Bennett Hotel at Hamilton
A man alleged to have robbed three pubs – including two within 500 metres of his home – has been dramatically arrested by heavily-armed police in a BearCat.
Newcastle
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A man has been dramatically arrested by heavily-armed police and an armoured van just a few hundred metres from two of the three pubs he is accused of robbing.
The 29-year-old was taken into custody in Everton Street at Hamilton on Tuesday morning following an alleged short standoff with tactical police.
The home was less than 500 metres from the Bennett Hotel, where he is alleged to have approached two staff members as they left the Denison St pub on Sunday night and threatened them with a handgun before stealing cash.
And it is less than 200 metres from the Exchange Hotel, where he is alleged to have threatened an employee with a knife before stealing cash on July 8.
The man’s arrest came after an investigation into the two alleged robberies – and a third holdup at a Waratah pub on July 3 – by robbery and serious crime squad detectives.
Strike Force Kula investigators, along with tactical operations unit officers, stormed the Hamilton home about 7.30am on Tuesday.
“Upon police arrival, a 29-year-old man refused to leave the home and a police operation commenced,’’ police said in a statement.
“Crews from Fire and Rescue NSW attended following reports of a small fire inside the home, however, were not required.
“Specialist officers, including negotiators, attended the scene before the man was arrested without incident about 10.30am.’’
A search warrant was subsequently executed at the Hamilton home, and a second was executed at a home on Scholey Street, Mayfield – where officers allegedly seized a number of items for further forensic examination.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with two counts of robbery armed with an offensive weapon, and robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon.
He was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.
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