Man arrested in raid
Suspect charged over four violent robberies
A MAN allegedly responsible for four violent armed robberies has been arrested by the crack tactical arm of Queensland Police in a raid on a Logan home.
Officers from the Special Emergency Response Team raided the house on Sunday, taking a Hillcrest man, 25, into custody.
He has since been charged over the armed robbery of an Ashmore jewellery store and a second-hand dealer in Southport, as well as two others in Logan and Stones Corner.
It is understood the alleged offenders did not case the businesses before the robberies.
A female attendant was hit in the face with the butt of a sawn-off shotgun in a terrifying robbery of the jewellery store in Ashmore last week.
Police allege the offenders got away with an arm full of property.
In the Southport robbery on December 7, it will be alleged two men confronted a worker closing up at the end of the day and smashed their way into the building through the front glass window with a hammer.
Police are still trying to track down the Hillcrest man’s alleged accomplice.
Detective acting Inspector Mark Procter said the robberies over the past month forced police to launch a cross divisional investigation to track down the allegedly dangerous offenders.
“There has been a series of armed robberies at pawnbrokers and jewellery stores in the southeast corner,” Insp Procter said.
“As a result of these serious offences, a multi-district investigation (was launched) between Dutton Park, Logan and the Gold Coast CIBs.
“On Sunday a series of search warrants were executed in Logan, with the aid of the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and a 25-year-old male has been taken in custody and charged with four offences.”
Insp Procter said there was a similar modus operandi across the four robberies.
“Working with our colleagues in South Brisbane and Logan, we quickly ascertained we were looking for the same people and we got together and investigated and came to this conclusion.”
He said the reward from the robberies, definitely was not worth the potential time they’ll spend behind bars if found guilty.
“It is very dangerous, we know that firearms were used in the offences and we believe the firearms to be real.
“The message we would like to say, is that the risk of these offences and of someone spending a long period in custody far outweigh the reward these offenders get.
“We’re talking about a matter of hundreds of dollars at each location.”
Insp Procter said police were yet to recover any of the stolen property or the weapons used in the robberies.
The 25-year-old Hillcrest man has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on January 22.
If you have any information that can assist police with their investigation, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.