Too young to buy alcohol, two teens have been charged with holding up an Albion Park bottle shop attendant at knifepoint.
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With their faces covered, and one holding a small knife, the pair were captured on CCTV camera as they approached the counter at Tongarra Road’s Cellarbrations about 9pm Monday.
They told the teenage attendant, “give us your money”, before leaving with the store’s takings, cigarettes and a bottle each of spirits
They, and two other boys, were arrested on the Princes Highway at Yallah four hours later. Police say their ages are 14, 16, 14 and 17.
The attendant, 19-year-old Joshua Anderson maintained his cool throughout the robbery, with store video showing him calmly complying with the pair’s requests.
“The knife was pretty much the first thing I noticed,” Mr Anderson told the Mercury.
“One stayed on the other side of the counter whereas the other one followed me, holding the knife close.
“My heart was definitely going but I've always been told to stay calm and just comply with what they want, then deal with it after they're gone, after any danger is gone.
“I tried to move slowly to convey that I wasn't trying anything. I was showing my hands, I had my hands up, I was trying to show that I wasn't going to cause anything.”
“They both sort of watched me while I filled a plastic bag full of cash notes.
Police from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command arrived at the store soon afterwards, said the store’s co-owners, Eamonn Hayes and Peter Paton.
“I’m glad they caught them," said Mr Hayes.
"That's pretty young to start stealing from society.”
The group of teens have been charged with robbery with an offensive weapon.
They were refused bail and are due to appear before a children’s court today.