ACT

Crimes occuring in the ACT

A 59-year-old Jerrabomberra man will appear in the ACT Magistrates Court this morning over an aggravated robbery in Mawson 10 years ago.

Police will charge the man with aiding and abetting the May 2004 aggravated robbery of an armoured security van which had been collecting weekend takings from The Mawson Club in Mawson.

The robbery occurred around 3.45pm on that date when two men, one armed with a revolver and the other with a shotgun, held up the two security guards as they returned to their parked van with three satchels of cash.

One of the offenders discharged his shotgun towards a guard, who was injured with pellet wounds to his chest, stomach, arm, hand and eye.

The two gunmen who stole the cash were later arrested by police after a lengthy and detailed investigation.

In 2011, one of the offenders was sentenced to nine years imprisonment, while the second man who shot and injured the security guard received 15 years imprisonment for the aggravated robbery, and for intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Police will allege that the man facing court today gained access, via a third party, to detailed information about the movements of the security van to and from various locations around Canberra, and used this to plan the robbery. The two offenders currently in prison were then engaged to carry out the robbery.

ACT Policing has extended its thanks to the Canberra online community for its assistance in identifying the two male offenders suspected to be responsible for the assault and attempted aggravated robbery of a taxi driver in Macgregor on September 6.

Photographs of the offenders extracted from the taxi’s security camera were published on the ACT Policing Facebook page.

These clear images were shared between viewers 736 times, with over 108,000 views of the post. Numerous information reports were received via the Crime Stoppers phone hotline (1800 333 000) and online page (act.crimestoppers.com.au).

As a direct result of information received, yesterday (Sunday, October 26) Belconnen General Duties officers executed search warrants on two Macgregor residences. Several items were seized as evidence.

Later, a 19-year-old Macgregor man voluntarily attended Belconnen Police Station and spoke to police.

He will be summonsed to appear in the ACT Magistrates Court on a date to be fixed.

A second person, a 17-year-old northside youth, will also be summonsed to appear in court in relation to the assault.

Belconnen Constable Dominique Reynish, who led the investigation, said that within 10 minutes of the alleged offenders’ photographs being posted on the ACT Policing Facebook page, indications had begun to emerge about the pair’s identity.

“From an investigator’s perspective, this outcome proves how powerful social media can be in generating case leads and building an intelligence picture,” Constable Reynish said.

“It also proves that there is a strong willingness out in the community to support the work of police, particularly if we provide the most appropriate communication methods  and maintain a positive engagement.”

 

ACT Policing is investigating the theft of two watches from a jewellery store located in the Canberra Centre, Civic, yesterday (October 16).

Around 2.10 pm, a man entered the jewellery store where he requested to be shown the watches by a shop assistant. Shortly after he grabbed the watches and ran off.

The offender is described as of Asian appearance in his mid-30’s, slim build and approximately 168cm-173cm (5’6”-5’8”). He was wearing blue pants, a tweed style jacket, white hat and sunglasses.

Reports suggest he may be responsible for a similar type of theft from the Westfield Woden a week ago.

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an aggravated robbery at the Latham Handy Mart yesterday afternoon (Monday, October 6).

About 4pm, a male walked into the Latham Handy Mart on Dalley Crescent, Latham, approached the shop assistant, produced a knife and demanded cash.

The shop assistant complied and placed a sum of cash in a green shopping bag provided by the offender.

The offender took the bag, along with a number of bottles of alcohol from the store before leaving.

The shop assistant witnessed the male flee on foot in the direction of Latham Primary School.

The male was described as being over 183cm (6’) tall, of a muscular build with dark-coloured skin and a trimmed beard. He was wearing sun glasses, a dark hooded jumper, a beanie, dark track pants and white shoes.

AFP Forensic Services attended and examined the area and members of the Criminal Investigations team are continuing to investigate the incident.

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an aggravated robbery at a service station in Giralang last night (Saturday, October 4).
Around 8.05pm yesterday, the offender entered the 7-Eleven service station and threatened the attendant with what appeared to be a small revolver. He stole cash and cigarettes, then ran off.
Police attended, and AFP Forensic investigators examined and documented the scene.
The offender is described as over 183cm (6’) tall, with an athletic build, dark skin and a defined goatee beard. He was wearing sunglasses, a black hooded jumper with olive green sleeves, a beanie, black pants and white shoes.

ACT Policing has released a face-fit of a man they believe is responsible for five aggravated robberies from earlier this year.

Since April there have been five armed robberies with similar descriptions of the offender and modus operandi, causing Detectives from Criminal Investigations to look at one person being responsible.

The man is described as being Pacific Islander/Maori in appearance, approximately 183cm (6’) tall, with a solid build and an accent.

ACT Policing Criminal Investigations Detectives believe seven aggravated robberies which were committed this year are linked.

Police believe one man is responsible for the armed robberies of five small businesses across Canberra, and two in Queanbeyan, since April, based on descriptions provided by witnesses and modus operandi.

About 6.45pm on Sunday 13 April a man entered the IGA Supermarket at Swinger Hill, Mawson, threatened staff with a baseball bat and left with a sum of cash.

On Wednesday 18 June, a man entered the IGA Chapman about 7.40pm with a large machete. The man approached the checkout operator and demanded cash. The staff member complied and the man fled the store on foot with a sum of cash.

About 8.25pm on Monday 7 July a man entered the Hello Sexy Adult store on Wollongong Street, Fyshwick, carrying a machete. The man threatened the employee with the machete and demanded cash. The employee complied and the man fled with a sum of cash.

On Thursday 10 July about 5.30pm a man entered the Waramanga General Store, waving a machete at staff and demanded money. A sum of cash was handed over to the offender, who then fled in the direction of Nemarang Crescent, Waramanga.

About 11.45am on Sunday 13 July a man entered the Griffith Newsagency which was being staffed by the owner and a teenage girl. The man grabbed the young staff member, threatening her with a knife while demanding the owner empty the till.  The owner complied.

The man then ran from the store, getting into a silver coloured four door sedan that was parked nearby.

Detectives executed a search warrant in relation to this investigation yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, August 27) at a residence in Griffith (ACT), seizing a vehicle, clothing and CCTV footage.

Investigations are continuing.

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an aggravated burglary which occurred in Fyshwick last night (Sunday August 24).

About 11.50pm, ACT Policing received a report that a Honda Prelude had collided with the front windows of Optus World on Wollongong Street, Fyshwick. The collision caused extensive damage to the shop front, with an initial estimated cost of $10,000.

Members of City Patrol attended and it was determined that several items had been stolen from the premises. AFP Forensics attended the location this morning (August 25) and accessed the crime scene, where the vehicle remained lodged into the shop front.

ACT Policing canvassed the area for witnesses and is seeking CCTV footage from surrounding businesses.

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an attempted aggravated robbery which occurred in Monash last night (Saturday, August 23).

About 9pm, three males entered the Panda Chinese Restaurant, located at Monash Shops off Barraclough Crescent. One of the males was carrying a short axe and demanded cash from the staff.

The male attempted to flee with the cash register, however struggled to carry it due to its weight and fell to the floor. The male then fled the store with the other two males, leaving the cash register behind.

The offenders were last seen heading onto the greenbelt towards Isabella Drive.

The offenders are described as being Caucasian in appearance, possibly aged in their mid to late teens, with slim builds and about 178cm (5’10”) tall. They were wearing dark hoodies, dark coloured tracksuit pants and bandanas covering their faces.

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an aggravated robbery which occurred in Hughes yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, August 19).

About 5pm two men carrying knives entered the Australia Post Office at Hughes Shops and demanded cash from the employee.

One of the offenders threatened the employee while the second jumped the counter and removed the till. They left with a sum of cash through the back of the store.

The first offender is described as Caucasian in appearance, about 180cm (5’11”) tall, with an average build. He was wearing dark coloured tracksuit pants with two white stripes down the side, a black hooded jumper with white insignia on the front, green coloured gardening gloves and a red bandana covering his face.

The second offender is described as having an average build and approximately 180cm (5’11”) tall. He was wearing black tracksuit pants with two white stripes down the side, a white hooded jumper with grey checks, green coloured gardening gloves, and a black face mask covering his entire face.