10 September 2013 – Armed Robbery – Supermarket – Lenah Valley
Published September 13, 2013 | 
At 7.50pm Monday 9 September 2013, police were called to the Lenah Valley Supermarket located on Augusta Rd, Lenah Valley following a report of an armed robbery.
The shop keeper was approached by a man holding a large kitchen knife who demanded cash. No injuries were sustained by the shop keeper, and there were no members of the public in the store at the time. The man fled with cash.
It is believed that the man left the scene in an older style white station wagon which was last seen driving down Augusta Road in the direction of Creek Road.
The man is described as:
- 6’1” – 6’2”
- Dark complexion
- Spoke with possibly a New Zealand or similar accent
- Wearing a red motor cycle helmet with no marks or stickers, black leather motor cycle gloves, and a dark waterproof jacket.
22 August 2013 – Armed Robbery – Newsagent – Lenah Valley
Published August 23, 2013 | At 4:30pm Wednesday 21 August 2013, a man wearing a balaclava and brandishing a knife demanded money from a staff member at the Lenah Valley Newsagency & Post Office on Augusta Road, Lenah Valley, near Hobart. The man stole cash from cash register and ran off.
“The staff member acted with courage and stood between the offender and a female staff member. A struggle occurred but the staff member was not injured,” said Acting Inspector Craig Joel.
Drug Squad detectives and Traffic Police were patrolling in the area and located a vehicle of interest near Video City in New Town. Subsequently a co-ordinated search was conducted in the area and four people were arrested by police. A sum of cash was also seized.
A 28 year old man has been charged with armed robbery of the Newsagency and will appear in the Hobart Magistrates Court later today. Another man and two women are assisting police with their inquiries.
Police would like to speak to anyone who saw a maroon coloured Holden Commodore sedan parked near the newsagency in Greenway Avenue at the time of the robbery.
“Anyone with any information in relation to this matter should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” said Acting Inspector Joel.
1 August 2013 – Update – Charges Laid – Armed Robbery – York Hotel – Granton
Published August 2, 2013 | In relation to the Aggravated Armed Robbery that occurred at the York Hotel, Granton, on the 25th May 2013, detectives from the Glenorchy
CIBhave today also charged David Ian Charles COLES. COLES appeared in court this morning and was bailed to appear at a later date.
Two other males, Derek CROSSWELL and Jay John BRADFORD, have previously been charged over the same matter and are currently on remand awaiting trial.
This latest arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation, occurring in relation to the recent spate of Armed Robberies in the south of the state.
28 June 2013 – Armed Robbery – Supermarket – Coles Bay
Published June 28, 2013 | At 6pm last night, Thursday 27 June 2013, a male person has entered the Illuka Supermarket in Coles Bay as it is closing and stolen cash from the till.
As a staff member was collecting an outside notice board the male person has entered the store and began taking cash from the till.
As the staff member returned to the store the male offender has continued taking the cash and has pointed what the staff members believes to be a firearm at him.
The male offender has made no comment at any stage and after taking the cash has left through an unlocked back door.
The offender is described as being around 190cm tall, with a medium build, he was wearing a hooded dark green army style jacket with pockets on the front chest area and fur around the outer edges. He was also wearing a black balaclava.
The firearm involved is described as being very old in appearance.
Detectives from Bellerive CIB with officers from Swansea and Bicheno are continuing with investigations.
23 June 2013 – Armed Robbery – IGA Supermarket – Branxholm
Published June 28, 2013 | At approximately 6.45pm on 22/6/13 two males entered the rear of the Branxholm IGA supermarket and assaulted the male owner with an iron bar and threatened him with a knife. The owner was forced to open a safe within the store and the offenders fled the scene with a quantity of cash.
At approximately 8.15pm Launceston Police intercepted a vehicle on TasmanHWYnear Waverley. The vehicle was searched and property relevant to the robbery was located. A 44 year old male and a 22 year old male were arrested at the scene and taken to Launceston Police Station.
Uniform personnel and Northern Forensic Services attended the scene of the robbery and several exhibits were located.
The males were later charged with aggravated armed robbery and they were detained to appear in an out of hours Launceston court on 23/6/13.
The victim received a serious head wound and was admitted to the LGH and is in a satisfactory condition.
17 June 2013 – Armed Robbery – Derwent Tavern – Bridgewater
Published June 21, 2013 | At approximately 6.20pm on Sunday 16/6/2013, police were called to the Derwent Tavern, Old Main Road, Bridgewater in response to emergency calls relating to an armed offender. An unknown male offender has entered the Tavern, wearing a light coloured balaclava, dark clothing and armed with what appeared to be a firearm. The offender has demanded money from the staff at the Tavern and left the scene with an undisclosed sum of money. The male was last seen heading towards the train lines behind the Tavern.
There were a small number of patrons in the hotel at the time and neither staff nor patrons were injured during the incident
14 June 2013 – ABS Crime Statistics TAS
Published June 15, 2013 | New figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that Tasmania’s victimisation rate remains the lowest in the country for a number of offences.
Recorded Crime – Victims Australia 2012 contains statistics on crime victimisation for a number of selected offences recorded by police for the 2012 calendar year.
The latest survey shows that Tasmania’s rates for the following offence categories were the lowest in the country:
Manslaughter Sexual Assault Kidnapping / Abduction Armed Robbery Unarmed Robbery Blackmail / Extortion and Other theft.
In the categories of Attempted Murder and Unlawful Entry with Intent, Tasmania’s rates were below the national average.
In 2012 assaults in Tasmania decreased by 5.2% from the previous year. That follows a decrease of 2.9% the previous year. 64.5% of victims of Assault knew their offender. Sexual assault decreased by 28.4% in 2012, following a 24.2% decrease the previous year.
Motor vehicle theft decreased by 22.5% in 2012, following a 4.2% decrease in 2011.
“It is pleasing to see the rate of assaults continues to decrease along with motor vehicle theft and we’ll continue to work with members of the public and other community groups in these areas,” Mr Cowling said.
The national figures show there were 89 armed robberies in 2012, an increase of 29 offences (48.3%) following a 24 offences decrease (28.6%) in 2011. There have been between 40 and 100 armed robberies recorded for each year from 2002 to 2012. Armed robberies most often involved a knife (53.9%) with firearms used in 20.2% in 2012.
“The number of offences can significantly fluctuate each year as it is a low volume offence type. In each year from 2000 to 2012 Tasmania’s armed robbery rate was well below the national average,” said Acting Assistant Commissioner Richard Cowling.
“This year the number of armed robberies is currently trending below last year’s figures.
“Tasmania Police prioritises the investigation of these incidents and continues to implement effective strategies to reduce armed robberies and identify and bring offenders before the courts,” he said.
Tasmania’s clearance rates were higher than the national average for all offence categories.
7 June 2013 – Armed Robbery – United Service Station – George Town
Published June 7, 2013 | Police are investigating an aggravated armed robbery which occurred at the United Service Station, Main Road, George Town approximately 1900 hours on Thursday 6 June 2013.
A male offender has entered the premises wearing a black balaclava and armed with a sawn off firearm. The offender’s actions were captured on CCTV.
The offender has demanded money before assaulting the victim by striking him to the head on a number of occassons with his fist and the firearm. The victim suffered an extensive head laceration. The offender has then fled the scene on foot with an amount of cash. The victim was conveyed to the Launceston General Hospital and was treated for a laceration to the head.
The Northern Criminal Investigation Branch is investigating the incident.
6 June 2013 – Armed Robbery – Newsagency – Hobart
Published June 7, 2013 | Around 4.45pm yesterday evening the female employee at the Avalon newsagency in Elizabeth street Hobart was confronted by a man armed with what she believed to be a knife.
After ordering some cigarettes the male, who is described as 28 to 30 years of age with short dark hair, brown eyes, fair complexion, slim build and around 185 cm tall revealed the blade of a knife protruding from his sleeve and demanded the cash till be opened.
The female employee refused before the offender tried to open the till and then grabbed a packet of cigarettes and ran from the premises.
As the offender left he collided with another male in Elizabeth Street before running left into Melville Street and not being seen again.
The offender was unshaven and wearing dark trousers a black jacket with no hood and had an Australian accent.
Hobart Detective continue investigations and would appreciate any assistance form members of the public who may have been in the vicinity at the time of the robbery or believe they have information that could assist.
6 June 2013 – Armed Robbery – Hotel – Claremont
Published June 7, 2013 | Approximately 10:45pm on Wednesday 5thJune 2013 two males have entered the gaming lounge at Claremont Hotel at Main Road Claremont. Both males were wearing hooded tops and one was in the possession of a double barrel shot gun.
One of the males has jumped the bar of the gaming lounge and removed an undisclosed amount of cash from the cash drawers and placed it into a bag. The males have then left the hotel.
A number of patrons and staff were present but no one was injured during the incident.
Police are appealing to members of the public for any information they have in relation to this robbery.
