Armed hold-up shocks village

Reopened: The Potts-Full Tavern was open for business yesterday after an armed robbery the day before.

Crystal Spencer

AN ARMED hold-up in broad daylight has a number of Pottsville residents and businesses gripped with fear.

The small town has been shaken by the brazen robbery with a bolt-action rifle at the Potts-Full Tavern, Pottsville Waters Shopping Centre.

A 20-year-old Pottsville female shop assistant in the tavern’s bottle shop, who was believed to be a new member of staff, was bailed up by two masked men on Tuesday afternoon, one armed with a rifle.

The bandits, one wearing a balaclava and the other a hooded jumper, entered the bottle shop with the rifle and demanded money from the till about 3.40pm.

A 41-year-old good Samaritan, whose suspicions were raised by the thieves’ getaway car, entered the shop armed with a hammer.

When the gun-wielding bandit pointed the firearm at him, he dived out of the way.

The pair got away carrying the takings and several bottles of whisky in a 1989-model Ford Laser sedan.

The vehicle, which had been stolen from Cabarita about an hour earlier, was recovered by police a short distance away.

No shots were fired and no-one was hurt in the incident.

Police were still hunting the bandits at time of print.

Pottsville nurse Christine Kirchhoff yesterday said she had been scared stiff by Tuesday’s incident.

“It’s a scary thing to happen in such a tight-knit community like Pottsville,” Ms Kirchhoff said.

“I’m especially fearful for the elderly people in the area. We’re used to the yahoos who drive around here on the weekend, but this is something completely different.”

The Pottsville Spar supermarket manager, who only wanted to be known as Wendy, said she feared for the school students around at the time of the robbery.

“It was such a brazen attack to do in broad daylight. I’m also concerned because it was just after school and there were a lot of students still around,” Wendy said.

“I’ve never heard of anything like this happening before.

“We’ve been broken into, but only ever after hours.”

The Potts-Full Tavern declined to comment when approached by the Tweed Daily News.

An employee only said their concern was for the young girl involved in the robbery.

Police wish to speak to two men who they believe may be able to assist them with their inquiries (see descriptions).

The Tweed Byron Local Area Command are appealing for anyone with information about the robbery to contact them via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Descriptions

One is of white/European appearance, 18 to 25 years old, about 170-175cm tall, thin build wearing a navy-coloured balaclava and dark track pants.

The other is of white/European appearance, 18 to 25 years old, about 183-185cm tall, thin build and wearing a white long-sleeved hooded top pulled tight around his face, blue jeans and white sneakers.