Two men will appear in court today charged over a number of armed robberies in the Hunter region.

About 5:20pm yesterday (Wednesday 25 January 2012), officers attached to Strike Force Monterra executed a search warrant at premises in Prince Street at Bellbird.

A 34-year-old man was arrested and later charged with robbery whilst armed with an offensive weapon. He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 26 January 2012).

 About 8:35pm yesterday, a male entered a service station on Cessnock Road at Weston and allegedly threatened a female employee with a knife. He then left the premises with a sum of cash.

About 12:30am today, police arrested a man at premises in Congewai Street at Aberdare. He’s been charged with robbery whilst armed with an offensive weapon and refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 26 January 2012).

 The charge/s relate to incidents at a:

 Service station in Cessnock on 8 January 2012;

Hotel in New Lambton on 8 January 2012;

Supermarket in Cessnock on 16 January 2012;

Supermarket in Kurri Kurri on 21 January 2012;

Service station in Weston on 25 January 2012.

 Investigations are continuing.

Strike Force Monterra, comprising officers attached to State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad, and officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command, was formed to investigate a series of armed robbery offences in the region during December 2011 and January 2012.