TWO men who police claim are behind a violent Tamworth home invasion used hoodies and hats to shield their faces minutes later in a paywave fraud.
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Police have made a breakthrough in the North Tamworth home invasion probe and said they have evidence linking the suspects to a reported fraud used stolen credit cards shortly after at the Shell Coles Express on Goonoo Goonoo Road.
The only problem is the suspects tried to conceal their faces, and police need public help to stop them in their tracks.
"These persons are wanted for a serious indictable crime that happened a short time prior this fraud," Oxley Detective Acting Inspector Jason Darcy told the Leader.
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"These people have come straight to that service station after the offence, and by wearing hoodies and hats to conceal their faces, it makes it difficult.
"That vision would have been crucial in identifying the people we suspect are behind this offence."
The North Tamworth home was first hit by thieves about 3am on November 5, only for the offenders to return again on Saturday night stealing wallets. The home invasions are being investigated by detectives.
Detective Darcy said there were "plain clothes police, extra car crews working round the clock, the police dog unit and proactive crime teams working around the clock" targetting offenders and known hot spots throughout Tamworth.
"We make this appeal to anyone working in fast food outlets, corner shops, service stations late at night, and early into the morning, that serve these people - have them remove their hats and hoodies and disguises so that you see who they are," he said.
"You never know where they have been, or who they are if you don't look at them, and in this circumstance, they were involved in a very serious offence.
"If staff or employers are concerned with any backlash from this request then immediately notify police and we can attend."
Detective Darcy is calling for anyone that recognises the men to come forward. No charges have been laid, but police are hopeful the incident will serve as a warning so that more people won't fall victim.
"The issue we have is with them wearing hats and hoodies and shirts pulled up over their faces, and they go into a service station, which has CCTV, and commit further offences using stolen cards and conceal their identity which has completely hampered investigations to identify them," Detective Darcy.