Detectives from State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad have arrested five men in relation to the armed robbery of a club at Hunters Hill last week.

About 11.45pm on Thursday 10 May 2012, two men armed with an axe and a rifle smashed the glass doors at the front of the club on Madeline Street.

Police will allege the men stole property from a number of patrons before fleeing.

Officers attached to the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad’s Strike Force Army have been investigating the incident, with their inquiries implicating a number of additional individuals.

About 6am today (Thursday 17 May 2012), Strike Force Army detectives, assisted by police from the Flemington Local Area Command, executed search warrants at addresses in Regents Park, Auburn, Birrong, Berala and Seven Hills.

During the searches, police seized a number of items relevant to the investigation, including clothes, mobiles phones, a machete, a tomahawk, ammunition and a 2008 black Honda sedan.

As part of this morning’s operation, police arrested an 18-year-old man in Greenacre; a 19-year-old man at the Auburn address; and a 24-year-old man at the Birrong residence.

They were all taken to Bankstown Police Station and charged with assault with intent to rob whilst armed; four counts of robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon; and possess firearm.

The men were refused bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court later today.

A 21-year-old man arrested at the Berala address was charged with accessory after the fact to robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon, and also refused bail to appear at Bankstown Local Court today.

At the Seven Hills address, police arrested a 20-year-old man. He was charged with possess ammunition and granted bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court on 14 June 2012.

Strike Force Army was formed to investigate armed-robbery offences at licenced premises. It comprises officers from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad.