Detectives from State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad have seized a firearm and arrested two men in relation to the armed robbery of a licensed club in the Blue Mountains last month.

About 7am on Saturday 4 May 2013, two balaclava-wearing men – one of whom was armed with a firearm, the other with an axe – entered a sports club on Bonnie View Avenue, Hazelbrook. They threatened a 63-year-old male employee of the club and demanded he open a safe inside the premises; however, he was unable to do so.The men held the 63-year-old captive, until five other employees arrived for work around 11am.

Shortly after the group of employees entered the club, they were approached and threatened by the armed men.
The men forced a 47-year-old female employee to open the club safe, from which they removed an amount of cash. The pair also stole cash from an ATM within the club, before stealing the 63-year-old employee’s vehicle – a Toyota Prado 4WD – and fleeing the scene in it.
Strike Force Bridley was formed to investigate the armed robbery.

Yesterday (Thursday 6 June 2013), police attended a property on Berry Street, Vincentia, where they seized a shortened, pump-action .22 calibre rifle and arrested two men – a 44-year-old and a 27-year-old. Detectives will allege the seized firearm was used in the armed robbery.

The men were taken to Nowra Police Station where they were charged with numerous offences relating to the armed robbery.

Both men were refused bail and are scheduled to appear in Nowra Local Court today (Friday 7 June 2013).