BUNBURY businesses have been hit by more than one armed hold-up a month so far this year, with last night’s incident at Domino’s on Sandridge Road making seven for 2015.
Three hold-ups have been reported in Bunbury this month alone.
Most robbery reports involved a man or two men threatening staff with knives and leaving with a sum of cash.
Thankfully, no staff members have been injured in these incidents.
Money can be replaced – it’s not worth being stabbed to save a bit of cash.
- Bunbury Police Senior Sergeant Ron Patchett
Bunbury Police believe the Domino's hold-up could be linked to another hold-up at the Parks Shopping Centre's Subway store on Monday.
Acting officer-in-charge Senior Sergeant Ron Patchett said the Bunbury crimes were in line with the style of recent armed hold-ups across the state.
“Knives are generally used because they are easy to get a hold of, they are usually wearing masks, rush into the store and demand money from the poor young girl behind the counter,” Senior Sergeant Patchett said.
“We are linking the recent Bunbury incidents to drugs – a couple or group getting more desperate for a quick fix.”
Seregant Patchett said it was very fortunate that no staff members had been hurt and were trained to comply with the armed person’s demand for money.
“Money can be replaced – it’s not worth being stabbed to save a bit of cash,” he said.
Police are looking closely at CCTV footage from these crimes, comparing every detail to get closer to finding the people responsible.
But Sergeant Patchett said it was vital that the community came forward with any information that might help the investigations.
“Information from the public can be imperative to getting a result – something they saw could be the missing piece of the puzzle.”
If you have any information, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
POLICE are seeking the public’s assistance with their investigation into an armed robbery at Domino's pizza store on Sandridge Road on Thursday May 28.
About 11.15pm, two men armed with knives entered the store and demanded cash from the staff.
Staff handed over an undisclosed amount of cash to the men, who then fled from the store.
One man was described as being fair skinned, between 20 to 23 years of age, slim build, shaved/bald head, wearing a black jacket and loose denim jeans.
He was carrying a backpack.
The second man was described as being fair skinned, about 20 to 23 years of age, medium build, black hooded jumper and blue wash pants.
No person was injured during the incident.
POLICE are on the hunt for two men who threatened staff during an armed hold-up in Carey Park on Monday night, May 25.
About 8pm, two men both wearing hooded tops entered the Subway on Bussell Highway at the Parks Shopping Centre, brandishing weapons and demanded money from staff.
A staff member opened the cash register and the two men left the store on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.
No staff members were injured during the incident.
South West Detectives have charged a man and woman over an armed robbery at a South Bunbury pharmacy on Wednesday afternoon, May 20.
It will be alleged that at around 2.10pm, a man entered the pharmacy and approached the counter.
Holding a syringe, the man demanded the contents of a safe from an attendant.
He was given an amount of cash and medications, before he approached another attendant and demanded the contents of the till.
He was again given some cash before he left the store and ran to a vehicle parked nearby.
He was chased by witnesses who smashed the passenger side window of the car in an attempt to apprehend him.
The car, which was being driven by a woman, then drove off.
A short time later, police conducting patrols on Bussell Highway stopped the vehicle and arrested the man and woman.
A 39-year-old Nannup man and a 26-year-old Nannup woman have both been charged with armed robbery and will appear before the Bunbury Magistrates Court on Thursday.
At about 5.20am on Tuesday morning, April 14, a man armed with a large knife entered the Shell Gateway service station on Australind Bypass and demanded cash from the attendant before he left the store and fled on foot.
The man is described as being fair skinned, approximately 183 cm tall with a medium build and wearing dark clothing.
At about 7.20pm on April 8, a man armed with a knife approached a staff member at the Dan Murphy's store on Spencer Street in Bunbury.
The man threatened the staff member with the knife and demanded money which he was given before he left the store on foot.
He was described as being about 30 years of age, approximately 183cms tall, with a medium to large build, and light skin.
He was wearing blue jeans and a black hooded jumper and had his face covered.
A MAN wore socks over his hands and used a large kitchen knife to threaten staff at the Strickland Street Chicken Treat store on Monday night, March 30.
Detectives have received several leads on the hunt for a man, believed to be in his 20s, who entered the fast food outlet at 8.50pm.
He used the knife to demand money from the till and staff emptied a small amount of cash into a green Coles bag that he brought with him.
The man fled the store on foot.
He was wearing bright green running shoes, jeans and a black jumper and had a slim build.
South West Detectives are seeking the public’s information in relation to an armed robbery on Friday, February 13, on Old Coast Road, Australind.
At about 5pm, a man and a woman entered Chicken Treat, threatened staff with weapons and stole cash before they fled via a rear door.
The woman, who was armed with a large knife is described as being about 17 to 19 years of age, approximately 165cm tall, slim build, very pale coloured skin and shoulder length dyed red hair.
She was wearing all black clothing, a black and white striped beanie and a mask over her face.
The man, also armed with a sharp object is described as being about 18 to 20 years of age, approximately 172cms tall, slim build, light skinned and short dark hair.
He was wearing all black clothing, a faded black baseball cap and a mask over his face.