Syringe stick-up charges
Woman’s alleged servo attack
A WOMAN who allegedly claimed she was armed with a gun and a syringe before trying to set a car on fire at a Belmont petrol station, has appeared in a Geelong court.
The Geelong woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was remanded in custody yesterday over the incident at the Coles Express service station on Settlement Rd.
According to police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Jackie Davis, the woman approached a man at the petrol station at 5.50pm Wednesday, and got into his car saying, “I’m jacking your car, give me the keys, I’ve got a gun.”
The court heard the woman then got out of the vehicle and allegedly threatened another man inside the service station, saying she was going to stab him with a syringe.
It is alleged the woman kept asking for a lighter and demanded the man’s car keys, saying she was going to “f-----g jack you”.
Sen-Constable Davis said the man, who was scared for his son who was in the car, threw his keys to the servo attendant, and in an attempt to calm the situation bought a lighter for the woman.
Police will allege the woman then went outside and approached a third man at the bowser, grabbed one of the pumps and poured petrol on his car before trying to ignite the lighter. The court heard the man managed to walk the woman away from the bowser. Police found no evidence of a gun or syringe on the woman when she was arrested a short time later on Francis St.
Sen-Constable Davis said the woman was taken to the police station but seemed disoriented and substance affected, and was interviewed in the morning before appearing in court in the afternoon.
Detective Senior Constable Daryl Crosthwaite said the woman was charged with two counts of attempted robbery and one of conduct endangering persons.
Her lawyer applied for bail, saying his client was highly educated and had no prior convictions.
Magistrate Michael Coghlan said he would neither grant or oppose bail, saying he had some concerns about the woman’s mental health and adjourned the matter to Monday so she could be assessed for an integrated support program.