At 6.45pm on Wednesday 5 September 2012 a male offender entered the business premises of Video Ezy situated at 156 New Town Road.

The male had entered via the front door and approached the customer service counter where he demanded cash from the male store attendant. The offender has then left the premises with an undisclosed amount of money.

The male was described as being 160cm tall, of stocky or solid build, with dark eyes, a tanned face, and brown thinning hair. He spoke with an Australian accent, and was wearing a dark cap, grey tracksuit pants, and a large grey bandanna covering his face. He was aged approximately 20-30 years of age. The male was carrying a thick black crowbar and believed to be wearing gloves.

The victim received no injuries as a result of the incident.

Police are continuing their investigation into an armed robbery at the Maypole BWS bottle shop at 191 New Town Road, New Town, on Friday 25 May.

Police are seeking public assistance to identify the two women depicted wearing ‘hoodies’ who entered the bottle shop at approximately 9:50pm.

One of the women produced a knife and made threats to the shop attendant.  No one was injured in the incident.

Police wish to speak to anyone who may know the identity of the two women.

At approximately 9.45 pm on Friday, 17th of August 2012, a male person entered the BP Service Station located at William Street, Devonport.  He demanded money from a staff member giving the impression that he was armed with a weapon; the employee of the business activated an alarm and the offender fled empty handed.

Devonport Uniform, Western District Traffic and Western Criminal Investigation Branch officers searched the area and located the offender nearby. He was arrested after he attempted to avoid apprehension.

Members of the Western Criminal Investigation Branch have charged a 21 year old Devonport man with attempted robbery in relation to this matter.  He was detained to appear in an after-hours court at the Devonport Magistrates Court on 18th of August2012.

Before being arrested, the offender discarded shoes and clothing in the rear yard of a dwelling in the Victoria Street/Churchill Avenuearea. Police would like to speak with anyone who may locate these items, or to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information regarding this matter.

Shortly before 7pm on Wednesday 8^th August, three youths have entered the Culloden Avenue Convenience Store in Lutana and created a disturbance, in the course of which one of the youths has stolen cash from the register.

The storekeeper has confronted the youths and been assaulted with a garden stake before the youths ran from the store.

As a result of investigations three youths, two aged 15 years and one aged 14 years, were interviewed and charged with Aggravated Armed Robbery.

These youths were detained for court and will appear in the Hobart Youth Court today Thursday 9 August 2012.

The storekeeper did not suffer serious injuries and did not require medical treatment.

INCIDENT 1:

At approximately 1.20pm Tuesday 12 June 2012, in the rear car park of the Beltana Hotel, Lindisfarne, a male offender has left the green 1995 Nissan Pulsar.  He has threatened a  ‘Cash in transit’ officer of a security firm with a firearm and then has removed the cash bag from this officer.  This officer was transiting the cash from the Beltana Hotel to another premises.  No person was injured during the incident.

The offender has then returned to the vehicle where a second person has driven the vehicle from the car park.  The Nissan Pulsar (EK0689)was located a short time later on Natone Street, Lindisfarne.  This vehicle had been stolen from Maple Avenue, Moonah at 745pm on Monday the 11 June 2012.

The offender who took the money was wearing a black balaclava and light blue disposable overalls.  The firearm appeared to have been shortened.  He is described as being male, 20 to 30 years of age and 5’9” tall.  The vehicle was later recovered at Natone Street, Lindisfarne [near the River’s edge].

INCIDENT 2:

On Tuesday the 10 of April 2012 at 0115 hours four offenders have gained entry to the Sorrell Shopping Centre using a stolen Ford Courier Dual Cab Utility, registration number FA9091.  They removed a bollard blocking the entrance to the shopping complex and forced open the automated doors.  They have then removed the ATM.

The vehicle had been stolen from Norma Street, Howrah earlier that night.

The ATM was later recovered in the Sorell region.

LINKAGE OF THE TWO INCIDENTS:

There are three points the investigators would like covered in the media:

• Investigators believe that a lot of time and planning went into the commission of both crimes in the weeks leading up to the events.
• Police would like to talk to anyone who may have seen a silver Nissan Pulsar registration DQ8698 in the car park of the Beltana in the weeks leading up to the robbery.
• Investigators believe that a number of people have benefitted directly from the armed robbery.  These people need to be aware that even though they may not have been involved in committing the robbery they may still be subject to prosecution.

As a result of investigations and enquiries conducted thus far investigators strongly believe that the offenders involved in the Beltana armed robbery also had some involvement in the stealing of the ATM from the Sorell Shopping Centre in April 2012.

A white 1996 Ford Courier ute was utilised during this ATM stealing and investigators would like to hear from anyone that maybe able to provide information into the whereabouts of this vehicle either prior to the stealing or after.

At approximately 2:30pm today Friday the 20^thof July 2012, a male person armed with a knife entered the Friendly Care Pharmacy, Hopkins Street Moonah.

The male person approached the counter and demanded prescription medication.

He was handed several packets of oxy contin and kapanol, placed them into a backpack he was carrying and left the pharmacy on foot

The male is described as being in his mid to early twenties, approximately 5’8″ tall, slim to medium build with dark eyes and eyebrows.

He was wearing a grey hooded top pulled over his head, light coloured track pants and had a red banadana with a black pattern covering his mouth and nose.

Four female employees of the pharmacy were present during the incident, however were not injured.