POLICE have arrested and charged two people from Withers after armed robberies in Bunbury and Esperance.
Police allege the 26-year-old male and 23-year-old female are responsible for an armed robbery at Jax Snax in Esperance on Sunday.
It is alleged the man and woman entered the store and the man produced a small knife to demand money from the till, which he eventually stole.
Police then allege the same people used a knife to steal money from Red Rooster at Bunbury Forum on Tuesday night at 8pm.
Police were called to the store and arrested the pair after a short chase on foot in Withers shortly after.
It is further alleged the pair committed a burglary in Gelorup on Tuesday afternoon with stolen property and a significant amount of cash located when they were arrested.
Bunbury Detectives acting officer-in-charge Al McNevin said the man had been charged with two counts of aggravated armed robbery, one count of burglary and various other offences.
The woman was charged with one count of burglary.
“The pair faced the Bunbury Magistrates Court this morning and were remanded in custody until early December,” he said.
Detective Senior Sergeant McNevin said he did not believe the number of armed robberies in the South West were on the rise.
“I do not think the number of armed robberies are on the rise and with police patrols we hope to keep it this way,” he said.
“But sometimes desperate people do desperate things.
“It is the task of the police to protect all the residents of the South West and our officers acted quickly to ensure this was the case.”
The staff in Bunbury have been offered counselling.
