Man Tackled After Theft

Newcastle Herald

Monday June 9, 2008

By BEN SMEE

A BUNGLING armed robber was chased down and tackled by a drinker from a Greenhills pub after making off with the cash register from a nearby service station.

The man was charged after he allegedly robbed the Caltex Service Station at Greehills and threatened a staff member with a bottle on Friday night.

The employee was closing the doors about 10pm when police allege he was set upon by the man, who demanded money.

Police said the accused man tried to flee the scene, but dropped the cash register after being tackled by a man who had been drinking at a nearby hotel and was alerted to the robbery by the employee.

Police arrested a man a short time later and charged him with offences including armed robbery. He was wanted for unrelated matters, police said.

The bungled robbery was the latest in a number of recent incidents at Greenhills.

Retailers at Stockland Green Hills said their businesses were suffering because of youths brawling and vandalising property on Thursday nights. They said extra guards and user-pays police would be brought in.

Police and Stockland Green Hills management were unable to confirm the arrangement.

© 2008 Newcastle Herald

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