Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives have charged four males over their alleged involvement in a number of carjackings across Sydney this year – including in Oatlands and Baulkham Hills.
The first incident reported to police occurred about 10pm on Friday, January 27, during which two unknown males – both wearing face coverings – approached two men in a Volkswagen Golf GTI on Blaxland Street in Lalor Park.
The unknown males threatened the men in the car with a firearm and a hammer, and demanded they get out of the car, before they got in and fled the scene.
Three similar carjacking incidents were reported to police in the months that followed.
On Friday, February 3, at about 11.20pm in Oatlands, three unknown males – all wearing face coverings – approached and threatened a man in a Toyota Hiyace on Gibbons Street in Oatlands. He was allegedly ordered to get out of the vehicle, before the other men got in and drove away.
About 8.15pm on Tuesday, June 20, two unknown males – both wearing hooded jumpers and face coverings – approached a man parked in a blue Toyota 86 on Seven Hills Way in Baulkham Hills. The unknown males threatened the driver with a firearm and demanded he get out of the car before they got in and drove off in an easterly direction.
On Wednesday, July 5, at about 11.30pm, two unknown males wearing face coverings approached two men sitting in a parked Audi Q5 on Richmond Road in Blacktown. They were threatened with a firearm, before the unknown men allegedly ordered they get out of the vehicle and fled the scene in their car along Richmond Road.
Detectives from State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad took carriage of the incidents under Strike Force Havannah.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives executed three search warrants in South Wentworthville, Cranebrook and Parramatta on Thursday, November 23.
In South Wentworthville, police arrested a 22-year-old man. He was taken to Granville Police Station where he was charged with nine offences including ‘three counts of aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it-armed with weapon’, ‘robbery while armed with dangerous weapon’, ‘participate in criminal group’, as well as other drug supply and driving related offences.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Local Court the same day.
At the Cranebrook address, police arrested an 18-year-old man. He was taken to Penrith Police Station where he was charged with five offences including ‘two counts of aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it-armed with weapon’, ‘two counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon’ and ‘participate criminal group’.
At the Parramatta address, police arrested two males aged 17-year-old and 21-years-old. They were taken to Merrylands Police Station, where the man was charged with ‘three counts of aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it-armed with weapon’ and ‘participate in criminal group’.
He was refused bail to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Friday, November 24.
The boy was charged with ‘aggravated take/drive motor vehicle with person in/on it-armed with weapon’, ‘larceny’, ‘possess prohibited drug’, ‘participate in criminal group’ and ‘breach bail’. He was refused bail to appear before a Children’s Court today.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.