POLICE officers had a firearm pointed at them and staff at a Gerringong club have been offered counselling after what is suspected to be two linked attacks on Monday night.
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Police suspect an armed robbery at Gerringong and attempted one at Berry are connected.
Two police officers had a firearm pointed at them when investigating the attempted break-and-enter of the Great Southern Hotel’s bottle shop at Berry on Monday night.
Gerringong Bowling Club management said staff have also been offered counselling after thieves allegedly used their guns to smash through the front door.
“They broke the front door with the rifle,’’ Gerringong Bowling Club secretary-manager Peter Head said.
“It was locked, so they smashed the door to get access.
“It wasn’t held up in a sense… They just took control of the money and the bar, they were armed.”
Police from Shoalhaven Local Area Command were patrolling the Princes Highway at Berry about 11.30pm when they saw the doors of a bottle shop were damaged.
A man outside the shop pointed a firearm directly at police seated in the vehicle, before running away.
Additional resources were called to the scene with police from Shoalhaven, Lake Illawarra, as well as the Dog Unit with Highway Patrol assisting. An immediate search of the area was undertaken, but the man remains at large.
Earlier in the evening police were called to an armed robbery at the Gerringong Bowling Club, during which staff were threatened but uninjured.
Detective-Sergeant Jim Wilson from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command said about 10.30pm three men forced entry to the club on Pacific Drive by smashing the glass doors.
The club had just closed; three employees were counting the day’s takings and cleaning up.
The staff in the office were confronted by the men, whose faces were concealed and were armed with rifles.
They stole an amount of money from the register before fleeing.
The employees – two women aged 33 and 23 and a 19-year-old man – managed to lock themselves in a back office and call police.
Mr Head was on the scene shortly after the incident, and estimated $2000 damage had been done in addition to the money stolen.
He said one staff member was confronted, and all involved were doing well.
“We’re in contact with them, and offered a debriefing and counselling,” he said.
Officers from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command attended and established a crime scene.
A search of the area was conducted with assistance from the Dog Unit; however, the offenders were not located.
Investigations are continuing.
The men are described as being of large build, all wearing dark-coloured clothing.
Police are urging anyone with information relating to these incidents to call Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
