Gold Coast crime: Cops form taskforce over violent alleged armed robberies on Gold Coast and Logan
Gold Coast police have made a major move in their efforts to trace a gun and cattle prod-wielding gang they are linking to four disturbing cases.
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A GANG which allegedly blasted their way into a Gold Coast tavern with guns are believed to be linked to three other armed robberies.
Queensland Police have formed a taskforce after local detectives identified a possible connection between four armed robberies involving a hotel and taverns in Logan and on the Gold Coast.
The robberies, during which the thieves used guns and machetes to steal money, occurred between June 2018 and May this year.
Detective Inspector Chris Knight said it was believed by police the crimes were linked.
“Detectives believe they (the gang) pose a significant risk to the public and are devoted to arresting and prosecuting those responsible,” Detective Inspector Knight said.
“Due to the number of people involved in these robberies, I have no doubt that there are people in the community with knowledge that would assist this investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the investigating officers.”
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The alleged armed robberies under investigation include one at Oxenford’s Maudsland Road on June 18 last year and another at Ormeau’s Norfolk Tavern on April 27.
Police alleged that in the Ormeau incident a trio of men, with their faces covered, shot their way into the tavern at 3.30am.
Shots were fired into the glass door so they could get into the building.
Inside, the trio “terrorised” two staff members and two patrons with a gun and a machete.
The hold up lasted around 10 minutes.
In the Oxenford incident three people wearing balaclavas entered a Maudsland St business, one armed with a shotgun and another with a cattle prod.
Police said at the time they made demands for money and forced the two employees present to assist them in taking cash and property from behind the counter.
One person has been previously charged for the armed robbery at the hotel at Oxenford and the Taskforce made a further arrest for that robbery on Monday, with a 29-year-old woman from Woodridge being charged with armed robbery.
She is due to face Southport Magistrates Court on July 26.
There have been no charged laid in relation to the three other robberies referred to by police.
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