Christopher Andrews, Robert Gordon, Joseph Keith Cutmore and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been refused bail charged over the armed robbery of a Domino’s Pizza store in Armidale on Thursday night.

The men allegedly confronted and threatened two staff inside the shop about 11.40pm and demanded cash but the armed hold up was foiled by detectives and Target Action Group police who stormed the store.

New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told The Leader investigators had been carrying out surveillance of the Girraween shopping complex after a spate of robberies, when they noticed four men acting suspiciously.

“Police conducting a planned surveillance operation on the grounds of the Girraween shopping complex observed four males, each with faces covered, run from the rear of the shopping complex towards the front door of the food outlet,” she said.

“A number of police entered the premises through front and rear accesses and apprehended the four offenders without harm to any member of the public or any member of the police service.”

The men were searched and a knife, brick and two pieces of timber were seized and a crime scene set up at the shop.

New England police launched Strike Force Inga in September – a covert police operation mounted in the wake of a spate of robberies in the Girraween area in recent weeks.

Detective Inspector Joy said as part of that strike force, investigators were stationed at strategic points around the shopping complex as part of a wider surveillance operation.

“This is the fourth robbery in as many weeks at that particular complex and whilst we didn’t have any specific information about a further offence, the pattern of behaviour assisted us in setting up operations,” she said.

“These are all serious offences. The safety of the community has always been the number one priority.”

PAIR'S SECOND HOLD-UP CHARGES

TWO of the men arrested in Thursday night’s police operation have been charged in connection to a second armed hold-up in Armidale.

Robert Gordon and Joseph Keith Cutmore appeared in Armidale Local Court yesterday on two charges of robbery armed with a dangerous weapon.

The pair were questioned by detectives yesterday morning after investigators pinpointed links between Thursday night’s robbery at the Girraween Domino’s store and an armed hold-up in early September at the same shopping complex.

Police will allege Cutmore and Gordon were behind the daylight armed robbery of the Girraween Post Office on September 7.

Cutmore had also been wanted by police after failing to front court on an assault charge where he was convicted in his absence.

Strike Force Inga – the police operation mounted to investigate recent robberies in Armidale – is continuing to examine who was behind armed hold ups at Freddy’s Liquor Store on September 23 and a nearby Indian restaurant on October 4.

“Strike Force Inga has been operating since early September during the initial incidents that occurred over that month through into early this month,” New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told The Leader yesterday.

“That investigation is ongoing.”

Yesterday, Gordon did not apply for bail in Armidale Local Court but Cutmore, and co-accused Christopher Andrews and the 17-year-old youth, who cannot be named, lodged a bid for release.

All four were denied bail by Magistrate Karen Stafford, who ordered they remain in custody until the case returns to court later this month.

The accused were not required to enter pleas but the serious nature of the charges has triggered a referral to the Director of Public Prosecutions who is expected to prosecute the case in the district court.