Joushua Daniel Dayal charged over Kooringal Mall armed robbery

An alleged axe-wielding bandit has been charged with an early morning robbery of a tobacconist in a popular shopping centre.

A man has been charged after he allegedly robbed a tobacconist of $10,000 in cash and $1525 in cigarettes armed with an axe at Kooringal.

Joshua Daniel Dayal, 30, is in custody after he allegedly used a small axe to rob the Kooringal Mall CTC Tobacconist on September 13.

He appeared in Wagga Local Court on Tuesday charged with robbery while armed with an offensive weapon.

The Kooringal CTC store was robbed around 6am. Picture: Facebook

Police allege he entered the store about 6am on September 13, armed with a small axe, and after intimidating the worker, escaped with $1525.80 worth of cigarettes and $10,114.20 cash.

Mr Dayal allegedly threatened the 32-year-old store manager while demanding cash and cigarettes before fleeing and disposed of the axe by throwing it into a nearby backyard which was later recovered by police.

Police will allege he fled the scene and escaped the attention of police who were dispatched to the area by catching a taxi from Tichborne Crescent to a location in Tolland.

It is believed police will also allege Mr Dayal was captured on CCTV spending the stolen funds on the poker machines at a local pub.

Strike force Crailand, made up of officers from the Riverina Police District, was formed to investigate the robbery.

After numerous inquiries, investigators attended a home on Churchill Ave in Kooringal on September 27, and arrested Mr Dayal and he was charged.

At the time of Mr Dayal’s arrest, none of the proceeds from the robbery were recovered.

Bail was formally denied and the matter will return before Wagga Court on November 24.