Australian Man Allegedly Robs Coles Express With a Samurai Sword

A robber threatened staff with a samurai sword in a western Sydney petrol station. (Marc Bach/Pixabay)

A man has allegedly robbed a western Sydney Coles Express petrol station on July 29, wielding a samurai sword.

Police alleged the man entered the service station in the early hours of the morning, around 3 am, and approached the counter inside the service station on Parramatta Road in Lidcombe.

He allegedly proceeded to produce a samurai sword from under his shirt and threatened a staff member with harm unless he was given money from the register. The staff member complied and handed over an unknown amount.

It is alleged that upon receiving the money, the suspect ran out of the service station to a parked vehicle, leaving the scene of the alleged crime.

Coles Express (Google)

The male staff member was not hurt during the ordeal, and detectives from the Auburn Police Area Command are appealing for anyone with any information to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

(Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Teenager Arrested for Armed Robberies

The robbery comes after New South Wales State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Nyrang to investigate a string of armed robberies at service stations in Sandgate, Williamtown, and Wallsend.

According to NSW police on July 28, Strike Force Nyrang officers arrested and charged a 36-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy for a string of armed robberies and the attempted break and enters of two liquor stores in Medowie and Elermore Vale.

The arrests came after police arrested and charged the teenager with the alleged armed robbery of the service station at Newcastle Road, Wallsend on June 1.

Following further inquiries, police detectives re-arrested the 14-year-old, along with the 36-year-old man.

The teenager was charged with additional offences, including three counts of aggravated break and enter and steal in company, three counts of robbery whilst armed with an offensive weapon and attempted aggravated break, enter and steal.

The 36-year-old man was charged with two counts of robbery whilst armed with an offensive weapon, two counts of attempted aggravated break, enter and steal in company, and one count of aggravated break, enter and steal.

The pair, who are known to each other, were both refused bail and appeared in the Children’s Court and the Raymond Terrace Court on July 29.