A third man has been charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives in relation to the alleged robbery of a jewellery store at Double Bay last week.

Officers attached to the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad formed Strike Force Optimise in June 2012 to investigate a number of robberies across the Sydney Metropolitan area.

About 8.40am on Friday 20 July 2012, police were called to a jewellery store on Knox Street, Double Bay, following reports several males, armed with sledgehammers and chainsaws, were robbing the premises.

Two men were arrested later that day at Kingsford and Maroubra and remain before the court.

At 8.10am today (Wednesday 25 July 2012), a 35-year-old man handed himself in at Surry Hills Police Station.

He was placed under arrest and interviewed by Strike Force Optimise detectives, before being charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon; two counts of aggravated break, enter and steal; and two counts of aggravated break and enter with intent.

The charges relate to the Double Bay robbery, as well as break-ins at a café in Alexandria on Wednesday 11 July 2012; a mower business at Drummoyne on Thursday 19 July 2012 where two chainsaws were stolen; and a hardware store at Annandale on Thursday 19 July 2012 where three sledgehammers and other items were stolen.

The man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.