By Andrew Starke
Police are investigating the possibility that two armed robberies involving a liquor store and hotel that occurred in the Blacktown area on Monday night (March 7) were carried out by the same suspects.
The first incident happened at about 8.15pm when two men, one armed with a handgun, entered a liquor store in Reservoir Road and threatened a 22-year-old employee while demanding cash.
The men stole cigarettes and were handed a sum of cash and left the building.
They were last seen running south before entering a vehicle and driving towards the Great Western Highway.
In another incident at about 10:45pm, three masked men entered a hotel on Sackville Street, Lalor Park.
The men, armed with a handgun and knives, threatened a number of employees and were handed a sum of cash from the registers.
They also accessed a safe inside the premises before fleeing with a large sum of cash.
The trio ran to the rear car park of the hotel where they were seen to enter a car described as being a white-coloured older model sedan, similar to a Toyota Camry.
Crime scenes were established at both premises and examined by officers from the Forensic Armed Robbery Unit.
Police are conducting investigations into the robberies and examining whether there are any possible links between the two incidents.
Anyone with information that could assist police with their inquiries is urged to contact Blacktown Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.