A MAN has been charged by police following an investigation into a number of armed robberies in the Illawarra, including a Bulli bottle shop in July.

Strike Force Coppin was established in April to investigate armed robberies in the Lake Illawarra and Wollongong Police Districts.

Police were called to the Princes Highway bottle shop at Bulli, following reports of an armed robbery about 8pm on Saturday 20 July 2024.

Wollongong police were told a 24-year-old male employee was threatened with a knife by a man, before he stole cash and fled through the back of the store and ran off towards Railway Street, Bulli.

Police believe the Bulli robbery is linked to incidents in Warrawong and Coniston during April and July this year.

Following an investigation by detectives a search warrant was executed at a house in Warrawong on Friday 9 August 2024.

Police found a 29-year-old man in a nearby property. When offices went to arrest him, he allegedly produced a kitchen knife to avoid apprehension. After he was disarmed and arrested, the man allegedly resisted police, causing an officer to suffer a dislocated thumb and a large laceration to his finger. The male police officer was later taken to Wollongong hospital for treatment.

The arrested man was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station where he was charged with seven offences – robbery whilst armed with offensive weapon (three counts), use offensive weapon to prevention lawful detention, assault police, resist arrest and a domestic violence related assault. He is currently before the courts.

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