TAMWORTH detectives say they have the name of the man thought to be responsible for Sunday night’s Quirindi robbery but they still need information from witnesses before an arrest is made.
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Police viewed CCTV footage on Monday and spoke with witnesses at the scene on the night the incident occurred to begin compiling evidence.
About 7.30pm, a customer at the Shell petrol station in Station St was allegedly grabbed around the neck by a man believed to be in his 20s.
The man allegedly demanded money and indicated he had a weapon concealed in his pocket.
He allegedly struck the customer on the side of the head and stole cash before fleeing the scene.
The man is thought to have come into the station from the north and fled the same way.
Witnesses said they saw no weapon during the incident.
They described the man to police shortly after, saying he was of Aboriginal appearance and of thin build, wearing a red hooded jacket and three-quarter length pants.
Yesterday, Oxley Local Area Command Detective Sergeant John Sommers said police had received information on the identity of the man but had not yet been given a formal statement from witnesses.
“We know who has done it, but now we need the evidence,” Detective Sergeant Sommers said. He said there were two witnesses at the station when the incident occurred, but there were several others seen on CCTV footage, filling up at the bowsers outside, in the lead-up to the robbery.
“We have spoken to most of them and we urge anyone that has not yet spoken with police to come forward,” Detective Sergeant Sommers said.
In other news, a Tamworth home and a takeaway store were broken into on Wednesday morning.
Police said between 10.30am and 12.30pm, a thief gained entry to a Mack St home in West Tamworth.
The thief is believed to have entered through the unlocked rear door and taken a wallet and a small amount of money off the kitchen table before fleeing the scene.
The home owner had been gardening outside at the time.
Earlier that day, at 2.15am, a Gunnedah Rd takeaway store near Taminda, was forced into by an unidentified man.
Police said he smashed the front door of the business to gain entry.
The owner of the store, who lived nearby, was alerted to the incident by the security alarm.
When the owner arrived, he saw the man thought to be responsible for the break-in.
The man stole a number of packets of cigarettes before running off.
Police investigations are continuing into both matters.