Following what appeared to be a number of well planned, armed robberies on jewellery wholesalers, the NSW Police launched Strike Force Warbrick. Last week Strike Force detectives announced a second arrest at Sydney International Airport shortly before the accused was due to board a flight to Argentina.
The charges relate to incidents in April and May this year. The first attack occurred at Haberfield when two men were threatened with a knife and robbed of jewellery valued at $640,000, while the second incident at Killara involved a jewellery wholesaler being assaulted and robbed of $200,000 worth of jewellery.
The 27-year-old man, who was refused bail, was the second suspect arrested by Strike Force Warbick, with the other arrested man already before the court. Investigations are continuing into the robberies and detectives continue to seek the help of the public.
Police believe the international gang suspected of being behind these two incidents is also linked to a spate of other robberies, which include:
- A bag containing a large sum of money being snatched from a parked vehicle at Canley Vale in March.
- Jewellery valued at $35,000 being stolen from a parked car at a Campbelltown shopping centre in April.
- Jewellery valued at $1 million being stolen from a motel room at Ryde in June.
- A second incident in Haberfield where two men were robbed of jewellery valued at $740,000 after being threatened with handguns on Dickson Street in June.
- Jewellery of a yet to be determined value being stolen from a parked car at Campbelltown shopping centre in July.
Strike Force Warbrick detectives believe the ring could include up to five people with a thorough knowledge of the industry and “a propensity to [perpetrate] violence in order to commit the crime”.
Police are still seeking assistance in identifying a third man who they believe can assist with their inquiries. Anyone who knows his identity, or has any information to assist detectives, should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Appeal to retailers
Given many of the robberies have been committed on jewellery wholesalers and company sales representatives, Police are urging anyone carrying valuables to be aware of their surroundings, not to take undue risks and to consider alternative methods of transporting those items.
After a robbery in July, one jewellery wholesaler told Jeweller that his company’s staff would no longer present products to stores unless there is a private office area. The decision came after his salesman was followed to the hotel by car from the jewellery store where the product presentation had been made at the counter.
The supplier has appealed to retailers to make a space available to sales representatives in the back of stores to present new ranges, rather than in plain sight of all customers.
Snatch and dash
In related news NSW Police are also searching for a man who stole a $6,000 diamond ring from a jewellery store in Queanbeyan earlier this month.
The man entered the store late in the afternoon and placed the ring on his finger to examine it before fleeing the store. Staff members chased the man before he drove away in a black Holden Astra.
The man is described as Caucasian, approximately 185cm tall and between 25 and 30 years of age.