Alleged armed robbers Raymond King, Ralph Quinlin charged after hold ups at pubs in Sydney, Mid North Coast
Two alleged firearm-wielding robbers accused of terrorising staff and stealing $275,000 across pubs in Sydney and the Mid North Coast have been arrested with balaclavas. One of the accused will soon make a bid for bail.
Police & Courts
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Two men allegedly threatened staff and patrons of pubs in Sydney and the Mid North Coast before stealing huge sums of cash – including $100,000 from a Canterbury venue – in a series of terrifying armed hold ups.
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives charged Waterloo man Raymond King, 45, and Jordan Springs’ Ralph Quinlin, 56, on Friday following an investigation into five hold ups and three attempted incidents by a gang since August.
Police first responded to reports of an attempted armed hold up at a licensed premises at the Southend Hotel in Maroubra on Monday, August 26 about 10.20am when a man allegedly brandishing a firearm entered the hotel before fleeing.
On September 1, up to five people attempted to gain access to the same premises but were also unsuccessful.
That night, police allege King carried a sawn-off firearm and, along with Quinlin, was accused of being in a stolen Mini Cooper at Maroubra.
On August 27, two men wielding firearms allegedly fired a shot at the door of the Livingstone Hotel at Petersham after they demanded cash before fleeing the scene with about $5000 at 1.10am, when Quinlin was allegedly in a stolen blue Mercedes Benz in the same suburb.
The same day, Leichhardt police received reports a group had attempted to break into the Victoria Hotel on Young St, Annandale, but were unsuccessful.
But a group – three armed with firearms – fled the Pier Hotel at Banksmeadow on Botany Rd escaped with about $20,000 on September 1 when they allegedly forced staff to hand over the cash about 10.25pm.
The group is accused of terrorising more staff at the Canterbury Hotel September 24 at 1am when two people allegedly armed with firearms threatened staff and patrons before fleeing with $100,000 in cash.
Staff and patrons were allegedly forced to the ground five days later at the Moonee Beach Hotel when two gun-wielding men allegedly fled with $120,000 after they forced workers to hand over the cash about 1.45am.
Staff and patrons at the Panania Hotel were put through an ordeal on Friday, October 18 when two men – one armed with a shotgun and the other with a pistol – stormed the watering hole on the corner of Anderson Ave and Braesmere Rd at Panania about 1.45am.
They allegedly threatened staff and escaped with $30,000.
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives formed Strike Force Greenville to investigate.
Following extensive inquiries, about 2.30am on October 25, they arrested King and Quinlin on Reeve St in Waterloo.
A search of the men discovered they were carrying balaclavas and other items consistent with allegedly preparing to execute another armed hold up.
Quinlin was taken to hospital for injuries sustained during the arrest, before both men were taken to Mascot Police Station.
Quinlin was charged with 11 offences including six counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, two counts of armed with intent commit indictable offence, fire firearm in or near public place, and two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
He was allegedly a passenger in a stolen blue Mercedes Benz at Petersham in the early hours of August 27.
King was charged with eight offences including three counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, dealing with the property proceeds of crime less than $100,000 and less than $5000 shoplifting and possessing a prohibited drug.
Police allege King possessed 0.64g of methylamphetamine at Waterloo on Friday.
He is accused of a $1500 stealing spree at a TK Maxx store on October 24 when he allegedly stole clothes with a mix of brands including Lacoste, New Balance and Tommy Hilfiger.
He is accused of spending $650 at Panania in the week leading up to October 25 that was allegedly the proceeds of crime.
Strike force detectives also raided a Waterloo unit, where police seized clothing and cloned plates.
King and Quinlin were refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday when no bail was applied for and formally refused.
King appeared dishevelled and exhausted when he faced court via video link.
His Legal Aid solicitor requested an adjournment for Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday when a release application will be made.
No application for bail was made for Quinlin, whose case was adjourned to Downing Centre Local Court on December 19.
Strike force investigations continue.
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