Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged a second man as part of ongoing investigations into a spate of alleged car jackings and armed robberies committed at gunpoint in Sydney’s north-west earlier this year.
Investigators from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad – assisted by officers from The Hills Police Area Command – established Strike Force Bellinger to investigate a number of motor vehicle thefts and assaults which occurred between December 2021 and January 2022.
Of note, on Saturday 8 January 2022;
• About 3.15am, two males armed with handguns approached a man and woman – aged 58 and 59 – travelling inside a black BMW 640i as they drove into the driveway of a West Pennant Hills home. It’s alleged the males demanded the keys to the vehicle before smashing the passenger’s side window and stealing a handbag, then fleeing in a black Lexus sedan.
• About 3.35am, a 37-year-old man was approached by two males and threatened with a firearm, then assaulted, as he exited a service station on Windsor Road at Northmead. It’s alleged one of the males then fled in a white Hyundai, while the second male left the scene in the man’s black Range Rover Evoque.
• About 3.50am, a 36-year-old man stopped his white Hyundai on the side of Prospect Highway, Blacktown, when two vehicles approached his car and stopped, preventing him from driving off. Police have been told two males – armed with a machete and a handgun – then forced the man into one of their vehicles, as a third male stole the Hyundai. It’s alleged the duo then made a range of demands for cash and other property, before he was eventually released near Girraween.
Following inquiries, crime scenes were established at multiple locations and several items were seized by investigators – including the stolen Lexus and Range Rover – which were located abandoned later that day and have since undergone forensic examination.
Further inquiries led strike force investigators to arrest a 24-year-old man in Lithgow on Tuesday 11 January 2022. He remains before the courts.
After further investigations, detectives attended a correctional centre at Silverwater and arrested a man about 10.20am yesterday (Monday 21 February 2022).
The man, aged 26, was charged with three counts robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, destroy property in company use fire, and take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage.
The man appeared at Blacktown Local Court yesterday where he was refused bail to appear at the same court on Tuesday 19 April 2022.
Investigations under Strike Force Bellinger continue.
Anyone with information that may assist investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
