Alleged armed robber nabbed

AN ALLEGED serial armed robber has been arrested in relation to a series of knife-brandishing standovers at Earlville and Mount Sheridan.

Cairns Police allege the 34year-old Cairns man robbed a Hardy Rd, Mt Sheridan shop last week and hit another convenience store at Earlville two days later on October 8.

During both robberies, a “bladed weapon” was used, with the accused making off with cash from the Earlville store after making demands of employees.

Workers at the store were shaken after having a knife brandished in such proximity, police said.

Plain clothes Senior Constable Barry Hartshorn said the investigation led detectives to a house at Manunda about 9.45am on Monday.

“The CCTV footage from both businesses corroborated each other and we were able to identify that it was the same person and also by the methods in which the robbery was actually committed,” he said.

Sen-Constable Hartshorn said the man was arrested at the Anderson St house after a scuffle.

“However, we were able to safely take that person into custody,” he said.

The man was charged with one count each of armed robbery, attempted robbery, serious assault of a police officer and wilful damage.

Sen-Constable Hartshorn said the arrest of the man was a positive result in the ongoing protection of the Cairns community.

“This person is someone we probably don’t want walking around the streets of our local community,” he said.

The man appeared in court yesterday and his matter has been adjourned to a later date.