A man arrested this morning following a number of armed robberies at service stations in the NSW Hunter Region this year has now been charged.

Strike Force Benni, comprising officers from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, was established earlier this year to investigate a number of armed robberies at service stations in Muswellbrook, Maitland, Raymond Terrace, Heatherbrae and Islington in June and July this year.

After ongoing investigations, Strike Force detectives with assistance from Central Hunter Local Area Command arrested a 22-year-old man about 10am today (Friday 18 November 2016), at a car park on Lawes Street, East Maitland.

He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with:

– Robbery whilst armed with an offensive weapon x 3;

– Attempted robbery whilst armed with an offensive weapon x 2;

– Drive conveyance without consent of owner;

– Drive whilst disqualified x 2.

He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Saturday 19 November 2016).

Inquiries by detectives attached to Strike Force Benni are continuing.