Police investigating at least seven armed robberies, and shots being fired at a Kingsgrove takeaway chicken outlet, have arrested four people at Beverly Hills this morning (Wednesday 26 November 2014).

Strike Force Culch, comprised of officers from the Metropolitan Robbery Unit, was established in August to investigate a series of armed robberies across Sydney.

Further details of the armed robberies include:

– a hotel in Mortdale on Monday 2 June 2014;

– a hotel in Fairfield on Wednesday 4 June 2014;

– a tavern in South Hurstville on Friday 27 June 2014;

– a hotel in the Sydney CBD on Saturday 26 July 2014;

– a sports club in Rockdale on Thursday 31 July 2014;

– a hotel in Fairfield on Friday 15 August 2014; and,

– a hotel in Bexley on Tuesday 26 August 2014.

Police will allege in court that the incidents involved two or three offenders who entered the premises’ armed with some form of weapon.

It will further be alleged the offenders wore dark clothing and had their faces covered during the incidents and fled the locations in a vehicle on a number of occasions.

About 9.30am on Thursday 28 August 2014, police from St George Local Area Command were called to a shop on Kingsgrove Road at Kingsgrove, after reports shots had been fired at the location.

Investigators were told by witnesses the shots were fired by a man from a passing car.
No one was injured in the shooting.
A short time later the car, a grey 2008 Audi station wagon, was found with partial fire-damage in a nearby street. Officers also recovered firearms from inside the vehicle.

Police will allege the same vehicle was also utilised during the series of armed robberies.

Detectives were also investigating two further incidents that were possibly connected to the armed robberies and shooting.

These included an alleged carjacking that occurred on Tuesday 7 October 2014 and a kidnapping that was reported on Monday 10 November 2014.

About 9.10am today (Wednesday 26 November 2014), strike force detectives, with the assistance of specialist officers from the Tactical Operations Unit, attended an address in Beverly Hills.

Four people were arrested and taken to Kogarah Police Station in relation to Strike Force Culch’s ongoing investigation.

Police remain on scene at the Beverly Hills address and investigations into the incidents are continuing.