Police say Harlaxton store ‘armed robbery’ was staged, charge ‘victim’ with stealing as servant

Police say four people will be charged with “staging” an armed robbery of a Harlaxton store on December 28.

What was initially investigated as the armed robbery of a Harlaxton store has now been deemed an “inside job” by Toowoomba police.

It was claimed a man armed with a pistol held up the Harlaxton business on the morning of December 28 before fleeing with $7500.

Investigations led to two people – Rebecca Elizabeth Charles, 32, and Leslie John Thomas Neal, 39, – being charged with armed robbery, though police said at the time a third person, a man, was believed to have been the actual armed robber while the pair waited in the car.

That man remained at large when Charles and Neal first appeared in court and were remanded in custody.

Charles was accused by police of being the getaway driver while she and Neal were accused of being involved in planning the “robbery”.

However, after further investigations, a 43-year-old woman believed to be an employee of the store had since been arrested and charged with stealing as a servant arising from the incident.

She was released on watch house bail to appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court for mention on January 25.

Meanwhile, a 24-year-old man police believed to be the person who entered the store armed with the pistol and left with cash had since been picked up by police in Brisbane.

Acting officer in charge of Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch Brian Collins said that 24-year-old man was being held in custody in Brisbane on other matters.

Acting Toowoomba CIB officer in charge Acting Senior Sergeant Brian Collins said a 42-year-old woman had been charged with stealing as a servant arising from the “armed robbery” of a Harlaxton store on December 28.

“He is expected to be charged (for his role in the alleged Harlaxton incident),” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Collins said.

Neal appeared back in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Thursday where police prosecutor Bettina Trenear formally withdrew the charge of armed robbery against him and replaced that with a charge of entering a premises with intent and two non-related charges.

Due to the armed robbery charge being dropped, Neal’s solicitor Brad Skuse, of Skuse Graham Lawyers, made a fresh application for bail.

Police objected to bail with Ms Trenear telling the court Neal had been captured by dashcam that day and that police believed he was part of planning the incident.

Mr Skuse argued there was no allegation that his client had a weapon and that, on the police case, his involvement appeared to be some planning at some stage and that he was a passenger in the car allegedly used in the incident.

Mr Skuse submitted one of the “major players for the staged robbery”, the woman employee of the store, had been granted bail.

Neal lived with a friend in North Toowoomba where he would reside if granted bail. and he would be willing to report to police, abide by a nightly curfew, not attend the particular Harlaxton store and have no contact with the co-accused, he submitted.

Magistrate Howard Osborne said the allegations were serious.

“In my view there is a strong prima facie prosecution case,” he said.

Mr Osborne refused bail and remanded Neal in custody with his case adjourned to February 3.