Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged three men allegedly behind a spate of armed robberies across Newcastle and Sydney last week.
The armed hold ups occurred in Waratah, Seven Hills, Pyrmont and Kingswood between Monday 5 January and Thursday 8 January 2026.
About 8am on Monday 5 January 2026, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District were called to a licenced premises on Station Street, Waratah, following reports of a robbery. Police were told two men allegedly armed with a handgun, entered the hotel, and demanded cash from an employee before leaving on foot.
About 1pm on Wednesday 7 January 2026, officers attached to Blacktown Police Area Command were called to a pawn shop on Artillery Crescent, Seven Hills, following reports of a robbery. Police were told a man allegedly armed with a handgun, entered the store and demanded cash and jewellery. The employee refused and the man left empty handed.
About 2am on Thursday 8 January 2026, officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command were called to a convenience store on Murray Street, Pyrmont, following reports of a robbery. Police were told two men allegedly armed with a handgun, entered the store, and demanded cash before fleeing with a safe.
About 4.45pm on Thursday 8 January 2026, officers attached to Nepean Police Area Command were called to a convenience store at Kingswood Train Station following reports of a robbery. Police were told a man armed allegedly armed with a handgun, entered the story and demanded cash. The employee refused and the man left empty handed.
Local police commenced inquiries into each matter before it was established the same handgun and dark coloured Holden sedan were used in each robbery before the matter was referred to State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad who established Strike Force Dudley to investigate.
Following extensive inquiries, about 2pm on Sunday 11 January 2026, strike force detectives arrested a 36-year-old man at a hotel on Main Street, Blacktown, who was taken to Blacktown Police Station.
A short time later, strike force detectives – with assistance of the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed a search warrant at a home in Wilberforce.
During the search, detectives allegedly located a dark coloured Holden sedan, phones and items allegedly used in the robbery.
The 36-year-old man was charged with robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, and two counts of in company rob while armed with dangerous weapon, relating to the incidents at Waratah, Seven Hills, and Pyrmont.
He was refused bail to appear at Blacktown Local Court on Monday 12 January 2026, where he was further refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court on Friday 6 March 2026.
Following extensive inquiries, about 4.10pm on Monday 12 January 2026, strike force detectives arrested a 27-year-old man on Castlereagh Road, North Penrith.
He was taken to Penrith Police Station and charged with conceal serious indictable offence and possess prohibited drug, relating to the incidents at Waratah and Pyrmont.
About 8.20pm the same day, strike force detectives – with assistance of the Public Order and Riot Squad – conducted a search warrant at a home on Joseph Street, Kingswood.
During that search, detectives allegedly seized clothing, CCTV and jewellery items.
A 35-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken to Penrith Police Station.
He was charged with assault with intent rob while armed with dangerous weapon and fail to comply digital evidence access order direction, relating to the Kingswood incident.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Penrith Local Court yesterday (Tuesday 13 January 2026).
Anyone with information that may assist investigations into organised criminal activity is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.