Police continue to investigate seven armed robberies in the Cessnock area over the past month.
Central Hunter crime manager, Detective Inspector Andrew McDonald said while most of the robberies involved a knife, it is “difficult to pinpoint” whether it is the same offender.
He said all incidents appear to be “opportunistic”, occurring either late at night or early in the morning, when there is only one or two staff and customers in the store.
The most recent incident was at the Aldi supermarket in Kurri on Saturday around 6.20pm.
A man in his twenties entered the Barton Street store and after a short time took some items to the checkout.
He threatened the operator with a knife and made away with a quantity of cash.
The Cessnock Aldi store was held up just five days earlier.
At about 5.30pm on Monday, January 16, a man believed to be in his mid-twenties entered the store and approached one of the shop assistants with a knife.
Police said the man demanded cash, reached into the register and left with some notes.
Twelve hours later, two men held up Cessnock McDonalds, armed with a firearm and knife.
The men gained entry through the rear door of the restaurant, after they threatened one employee with a gun.
Once inside the men took an amount of money and left the premises.
One of the men has been described to police as being of Caucasian appearance, mid-twenties and 168 centimetres tall.
The second male has been described to police as being of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance, late twenties to early thirties, solid build, dark brown eyes and dark brown eyebrows.
The restaurant was not open to the public at the time and no-one was injured during the incident.
Police established a crime scene that was examined by specialist forensic officers.
The Thursday prior (January 12), Domino’s Cessnock was robbed at about 11pm.
Staff were cleaning up at the end of the night when a man approached the counter, threatened staff with a knife and demanded money.
He left the Wollombi Road store a short time later with a quantity of money.
The offender is described as Caucasian, 170 centimetres tall, medium build, blond hair and wearing a coloured hoodie.
The United Service Station at West Cessnock was held up at knifepoint in the early hours of Sunday, January 8.
About 12.05am a man allegedly armed with a knife walked into the service station, demanded cash from the attendant and took an amount of money from the register.
The man then demanded cigarettes, before fleeing on foot. He has been described as clean shaven and wearing a hooded jumper.
Weston Workers Club was targeted by a would-be thief on Thursday, December 29. The male perpetrator entered the rear door of the premises around 8pm and demanded cash from a cook in the kitchen.
The man made threats with what one of the cooks identified as a toy gun. He eventually left the club without taking anything.
The Metro Service Station at Bellbird Heights was robbed at 7.45am on Christmas Eve.
A male in his mid-twenties threatened the attendant with a knife and was handed over a quantity of cash. He was seen to leave in a southerly direction on Wollombi Road.
The offender was described as six feet tall (183 centimetres) with blond hair, wearing a dark jacket and coloured pants.
Detective Inspector McDonald said police are investigating any closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage available and urges businesses to make sure their CCTV is working and to keep cash held on site at a minimum.
Anyone with information on any of these incidents should contact Cessnock Police Station on 4991 0199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Recent armed robberies in the Cessnock LGA
December 24, Metro service station Bellbird
December 29, Weston Workers Club
January 8, United Cessnock
January 12, Domino’s Cessnock
January 16, Aldi Cessnock
January 17, McDonalds Cessnock
January 21, Aldi Kurri
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