Police have arrested and charged two men over a series of crimes, hitting seven pubs in Sydney and the mid-north coast with attempted and mostly successful armed robberies.
It is alleged that around 10.20am Monday, 26 August, an armed hold-up was attempted at the Sands Hotel in Maroubra, when a man armed with a firearm tried to enter the hotel, before fleeing. Officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended.
At 1.10am the following day (Tuesday, 27 August), two men – both armed with firearms – allegedly demanded cash and fired a shot at the door of the Livingstone Hotel in Petersham, before fleeing the scene with cash. Officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command attended.
The same day, an unknown number of offenders attempted to gain access to the Victoria Hotel in Annadale, but were unsuccessful. Officers from Leichhardt Police Area Command attended.
On the coming Sunday (1 September), it was reported that up to five offenders again attempted to gain access to Maroubra’s Sands Hotel, but again they were unsuccessful and officers of Eastern Beaches Police Area Command were summoned.
Later that day, about 10.25pm, a group of unknown offenders – three armed with firearms – reportedly forced staff of the Pier Hotel in Banksmeadow to hand over cash before fleeing. Eastern Beaches Police Area Command officers were called.
Three weeks later, about 1am on Tuesday, 24 September, two offenders – both armed with firearms – allegedly threatened staff and patrons of the Canterbury Hotel before fleeing with a large amount of cash. Officers from Burwood Police Area Command investigated.
Around 1.45am the following Sunday (29 September), two men – both armed with firearms – threatened patrons and forced staff of the Moonee Beach Tavern to give them a large haul of cash before they fled. Officers of Coffs/Clarence Police District were called.
And at about 1.45am on Friday, 18 October, it’s said two men wearing dark clothing, face coverings and gloves – one possessing a shotgun, the other a pistol – entered the Panania Hotel. Described as “dumb, low-level bully-type” criminals, they threatened staff and patrons and punched a security guard in the face before escaping with another sizeable sum in a black 4WD and a black Holden Commodore sedan.
Officers from Bankstown Police Area Command responded and established a crime scene, before detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Robbery & Serious Crime Squad took over and established Strike Force Greenville to investigate the incidents.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives and the Tactical Operations Unit arrested 45-year-old Raymond King of Waterloo and 56-year-old Ralph Quinlin of Jordan Springs, around 2.30am on Friday (25 October) at an apartment on Reeve Street in Waterloo.
A search of the men found they were carrying balaclavas and other items consistent with allegedly preparing to execute another armed hold-up. Detectives later executed a search warrant on the residence, finding and seizing clothing relevant to the investigation, and cloned plates.
The older man was taken to hospital for injuries sustained during the arrest, before both men were taken to Mascot Police Station.
Quinlan was charged with eleven offences, including six counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, two counts of armed with intent commit indictable offence, fire firearm in or near public place, and two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner – relating to accusation that he was a passenger in a stolen Mercedes at Petersham on 27 August.
King was charged with eight offences, including three counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, armed with intent commit indictable offence, be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner, possess prohibited drug (0.64g of methylamphetamine), shoplifting and deal with property proceeds of crime. The last charges relate to a $1,500 stealing spree he is accused of undertaking at a TK Maxx store in October.
Both men were refused bail, to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Saturday (26 October), where neither applied for bail but it was formally refused. The cases were adjourned to Downing Centre Local Court.
Investigations by Strike Force Greenville continue, with hopes of locating the other individuals involved.
