AN investigation into the armed-robbery of a light-plane in Brewarrina almost two decades ago has been re-opened.
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Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad established Strike Force Leaburn to re-investigate the robbery.
Strike Force Leaburn detectives are appealing for anyone who has information relevant to the investigation to contact police.
About 10am on January 20, 2000 a mail-delivery plane landed at Brewarrina Airport and taxied toward the small terminal, where two female couriers were waiting its arrival.
As the pilot guided the light-plane to a stop a white Holden Commodore drove onto the runway and stopped in front of the plane.
Two men armed with shotguns got out of the Commodore and threatened the 21-year-old male pilot and the two women aged 33 and 36.
The men ordered the group toward a fence, to which they were then handcuffed, and stole packages from the plane before driving from the location at speed.
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The group freed themselves from the fence and contacted local police who attended a short time later.
About 10.30am the Commodore was located on-fire on Gongolgong Road 40km south of Brewarrina.
Emergency services whom attended the fire noted road-side posts and signs had been flattened or removed from the ground, and blue markers lined the road, believed to be prepared as a make-shift landing strip.
A crime scene was established at each location and various items relevant to the investigation were seized for forensic examination.
Further inquiries revealed the Commodore was stolen from a shopping centre carpark at Winston Hills in Sydney’s west on September 24, 1999.
Despite investigations at the time police were unable to identify those involved and no arrests were made.
As part of ongoing investigations, strike force detectives are appealing to the community to identify two men, who they believe may be able to assist with inquiries.
The first man is described as being about 182cm tall, with a solid build, and spoke with a distinct accent.
The second man is described as being about 165cm tall, with a thin build.
At the time, both men were wearing long navy blue work-style overalls, white canvas shoes with a rubber toe, gardening gloves with a green thumb and a black ribbed woollen balaclava. All items of clothing appeared to be brand-new.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Leaburn detectives is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
NSW Police have reminded the public that information provided would be treated in strict confident and not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.
