Raiders shoot way into Coast tavern
Gun, machete used in robbery
THE hunt continues for a three armed bandits who stormed a Gold Coast tavern in a “violent” robbery early on Saturday.
Staff and patrons cowered inside the Norfolk Tavern at Ormeau as three men, with their faces covered, shot their way inside about 3.30am.
One of the men fired shots into the glass front door to get inside the building, on the corner of Pascoe Rd and Halfway Dve.
Acting Sergeant Brendan Wiblen said once inside the trio terrorised the two staff members and two patrons with the gun and a machete.
The terrifying hold-up lasted about 10 minutes.
“This is a very violent incident, with one offender armed with a firearm and the other offender with a machete,” he said.
“A number of threats were made … this is a very frightening incident.”
The patrons managed to escape from the tavern while the bandits were still inside.
No-one was physically injured in the raid.
The trio stole cash trays and other items before escaping in a white Volkswagen Transporter van, which police later found abandoned and burnt out on Plunkett Rd, Tamborine.
Police said it appeared the trio had then used a second vehicle.
Sgt Wiblen said in-built safety measures, including timer locks, had reduced how much money the thieves could get their hands on. He said it appeared preparation had gone into the robbery and believed others may have been aware of the plot.
“We believe they came with a stolen vehicle with weapons which indicates some degree of planning. It is not necessarily sophisticated but it is violent,” Sgt Wiblen said.
Police yesterday trawled both crime scenes for clues, including forensic testing on the burnt-out vehicle.
Tavern staff who were working the night of the incident have been offered counselling.
Sgt Wiblen said it was difficult to issue a detailed description for the men, who are caucasian in appearance, as they were covered during the robbery.
He called for anyone with information or CCTV footage from both locations to contact PoliceLink on 131 444.