A MAN on the run is allegedly behind a string of armed robberies across Armidale.
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Strike Force Fryer was set-up by Armidale detectives in the wake of the armed hold-ups and officers are on the hunt for Kenneth Campbell.
The 25-year-old is suspected of involvement with a robbery on the Powerhouse Hotel on Thursday morning; the Wicklow Hotel before Christmas; the Whitebull Hotel earlier this week; the BP service station on Saturday morning; as well as other stealing offences.
New England Detective Inspector Roger Best suspects Campbell is avoiding officers, so police have been granted a court-issued arrest warrant.
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"Police have made numerous inquiries in relation to the outstanding offender and we searched five properties on Thursday," Detective Best told the Leader.
Anyone who spots him should not approach him and contact Armidale police immediately.
It's the police case that Campbell was involved in the armed robberies. Two people have been arrested already on robbery offences this week.
Jordan Waters and Bruce Walker are behind bars on robbery, aggravated break-in and car stealing charges.
Walker was captured in a police chase on foot near the carpark of the Powerhouse on Thursday after the stolen getaway car allegedly crashed into a police car.
Detective Best said police had pulled out all the stops to arrest the suspects behind the robberies.
"This was excellent police work between general duties police, the Target Action Group and detectives to apprehend the offender," he said.
"A police car and stolen car were damaged in the incident, but no one was injured and two males have been arrested."
Waters was tracked to a unit in Brewery Lane and arrested there.
Detectives allege the pair stole the key to a Ford during a break-in to an Armidale home on January 3; then returned five days later to steal the car which was used in a hit on the golf club.
They allegedly smashed their way into the club, ransacked it and stole the till, before fleeing and crashing the getaway car. The pair are then accused of threatening a woman in an Allingham Stret home and stealing a Subaru.
Waters and Walker then allegedly used a tomahawk to rob a woman of her handbag in the street before the alleged hold-up at the Powerhouse.
The pair are not charged with the other robbery incidents that are under investigation by Strike Force Fryer.
Breanna Chillingworth
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter
