A man has been charged and investigations are continuing after he allegedly posed as a phone technician to rob premises throughout Sydney’s CBD, Eastern Suburbs, and lower North Shore.

Since April, a number of business premises including clubs, travel agencies, and betting agencies have been targeted within Eastern Suburbs LAC, Harbourside LAC, The Rocks LAC, City Central LAC, and Redfern LAC.

An ongoing investigation has been examining the circumstances surrounding the incidents, and about 9.30am today (Friday 27 May 2011), officers attached to Operation Cobra 2 conducted an operation which resulted in the arrest of a 43-year-old man at Kings Cross Railway Station. It will be alleged the man was in possession of a large sum of cash at the time of his arrest.

The man was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for medical treatment and later interviewed at Kings Cross Police Station where he was charged with a number of aggravated break, enter and steal offences, plus assault police and resist arrest offences.

The 43-year-old has been refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court tomorrow (Saturday 28 May 2011).

It will be alleged that the man, who usually wore a chambray blue short with a logo, work pants, hat bearing a logo, and distinctive white work shoes, posed as a telecommunications technician to gain entry to business premises on the pretext of fixing phones.

The man then monitored the movements of staff, before allegedly stealing property and cash, and leaving the premises.

About 1pm today, a search warrant was executed at residential premises in Orwell Street at Potts Point.
It will be alleged a number of items of clothing were located bearing the logo of a major telecommunications company, plus a falsified technician identity card.