Four attempts, four fails: Man allegedly tries to rob Lake Macquarie stores
Police allege a teenager tried to rob four stores in Lake Macquarie — including a pizza place and chicken store — but came away empty handed before being picked up by the cops.
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A TEEN stands accused of rolling up some cardboard and hiding it under a shirt before entering four Lake Macquarie stores within a few hundred metres of each other in an unsuccessful attempt to demand cash and cigarettes.
Tye Anthony Brown, who turned 18 in December, is alleged to have become increasingly frustrated after his menacing threats fell on deaf ears at the Edgeworth stores, a suburb he grew up in.
One of the alleged witnesses at one of the stores is also alleged to be have gone to school with the accused.
Police said the wannabe rampage on Monday night only finished when Brown is alleged to have said to a service station attendant: “Would you rather give me cigarettes or get shot tonight’’.
But the attendant didn’t budge, and police investigating the other incidents walked into the shop and took Brown into custody.
Brown was granted conditional bail in Toronto Local Court today where he pleaded not guilty to three counts of demanding with menaces intending to obtain gain or cause loss.
Statements were still being taken on one of the alleged incidents and further charges are expected to be laid.
Police allege Brown entered the Pizza Inn on Main Road, Edgeworth about 7.45pm on Monday and demanded staff open the register.
When staff refused, Brown is alleged to have walked 90 metres and entered a Subway restaurant and demanded staff open the register.
Police allege Brown then grabbed a charity can on the counter and attempted to pull it from its chain before running from the store empty-handed.
Police allege Brown then walked 190 metres and entered Henny Penny restaurant on Main Road and demanded money from the register.
But when Brown was allegedly approached by a store manager, he left and walked 350 metres before entering a Caltex service station.
A further demand for cash from the register was made before police arrived.
Detectives found Brown had allegedly wrapped up some cardboard and hid it inside a shirt he was not wearing.
They were still taking statements from one of the stores on Tuesday afternoon and further charges are expected to be laid.
But during his appearance at Toronto Local Court today, Brown denied all of the charges and was granted strict conditional bail.
It includes a curfew between 7pm and 9am, he report daily to Toronto police station and his mother promise to forfeit $500 if he fails to comply with his bail conditions.
His matter was adjourned until March 16.