Stuart Wells made several mistakes during a robbery of Mittagong RSL
Here’s a list of what not to do during an armed robbery — especially if you have the most recognisable face tattoo since Mike Tyson
Police & Courts
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For any would be armed robber there may be a list of rules to follow if you’re going to get away with a successful stickup.
Rule number one: It’s not a wise thing to allegedly rob your local. Someone might recognise you, while police won’t have to look too far to find you.
Rule number two: If you have the most recognisable face tattoo since Mike Tyson, then it might be a good idea to properly cover it up.
Rule number three: Wearing socks on your hands might prevent fingerprints being left behind, but it makes it difficult to hold on to the cash you’re allegedly trying to steal. You’ll keep dropping it, so bring a bag.
Rule number four — and most importantly: Don’t walk around town carrying a duffel bag containing cash and a sawn-off shotgun after an alleged robbery.
Police will allege 26-year-old Stuart Wells broke all of these rules and more when he allegedly tried to rob Mittagong RSL of $18,000 on August 22.
Wells will face court next month, facing a bag full of charges relating to the alleged stickup.
When contacted, Wells’ lawyer Ben Archbold said: “I do not wish to comment on the matter as it is before the court at an early stage of the proceedings and access to my client has been difficult due to COVID-19. I can say on a personal level, when passing through, I have eaten at the club and the pasta is delicious.” On the day of the alleged robbery, police will allege Wells parked a rented ute at the rear of the club.
He was allegedly wearing socks on his hands when he left the vehicle, went around to the side of the club where he jumped a fence and went onto the club’s front terrace.
Police will allege that once inside he wore a mask that did not completely cover his face tattoos, then he allegedly confronted a cashier with the firearm and demanded the cash be handed over.
The cashier handed over $18,000 and the man allegedly grabbed the pile of money with his sock-covered hands before making his escape towards the front door, leaving a Handsel and Gretel-style trail of money as he went.
Before the man could get to the door, a person is understood to have come out of the bistro area and thrown a bowl of pasta carbonara at the man, allegedly causing him to drop the cash.
Witnesses said the man was nimble enough to dodge the pasta bowl but some sauce got on his hoodie and he dropped the $18,000 on the floor.
Using his sock-covered hands, the man allegedly picked up as much as he could hold — allegedly about half of it — and ran to the waiting getaway car, a ute with a giant Kennards Hire sign emblazoned on the vehicle.
Police will allege the driver of the ute was 39-year-old Moss Vale woman Kristy Burke, who has since been charged with robbery with an offensive weapon.
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Chapter 5: Money troubles before Hawi’s life ends in a hail of bullets
Detectives from the NSW Police Robbery and Serious Crime Squad set up Strike Force Keyne to investigate the holdup.
Seven days after the robbery, police spotted Wells at the corner of Kirkham and Elizabeth Sts in Moss Vale — about 14km from Mittagong RSL.
Police will allege he was carrying a duffel bag containing a shortened firearm and cash.
He was also allegedly wearing a hoodie that had a stain on it. A source said questions will be raised as to whether that was a pasta sauce stain.
After a short struggle, the 26-year-old was arrested and later charged with five offences, including committing a robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon.
Burke and Wells will face Moss Vale Local Court on October 20.