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MAY 10 2013 ISSUE 1102
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THE HEARTBEAT OF PENRITH
Stars come out to help local charity raise more than $40,000 Channel Seven personalities Mark Ferguson and Tara Dennis, along with renowned auctioneer Michael McCaffery, helped local charity OZWAC raise $42,000 towards important health research projects at its annual ball last weekend. More than 200 local business people, politicians and community members turned out to the event at Panthers, all taking part in the glitz and glamour of a 1920’s theme. It capped off a sensational weekend of fundraising in Penrith, with thousands also attending the Relay for Life event at Howell Oval.
48 hours of violence Armed robberies and violent break-ins have residents on edge
A
TROY DODDS
string of violent incidents across the local area – including a home invasion and two armed robberies in the space of 48 hours – has led to a plea for public assistance by local police as they try to track down those responsible. In the most frightening of the three incidents, two men armed with a handgun, a machete and an electronic stun device forced their way into a granny flat at the rear of a home in Upton Street, Penrith in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
A 24-year-old man was in the granny flat at the time, and was struck twice in the face with the handgun. The victim fled, but was caught by one of the offenders who used the electronic stun device to taser him. “The man then fled to the main house where his father was able to close and lock the front door,” police said in a statement. But the drama wasn’t over – one of the offenders kicked the door in and threatened both men with the handgun, before fleeing with a sum of money. “Emergency services were contacted and ambulance paramedics treated the man at the scene for lacerations,” police said.
“Police from Penrith Local Area Command attended a short time later and established a crime scene.” The offenders are described only as being of Caucasian appearance and in their mid to late 20’s, wearing sports style clothing. Their faces were covered with t-shirts during the incident. Meanwhile, three men remain on the run following the armed robbery of the Colonial Hotel at Werrington on Sunday night. About 9.45pm on Sunday, the hotel’s last customer left the premises, and staff prepared to close up for the night. Upon leaving the hotel, the customer – a 43-year-old man – was
assaulted and robbed of his wallet by three men. “It appears the three men, one of whom was armed with a pistol, then entered the hotel and threatened two on-shift security guards,” police said. “The guards were forced to the floor, while two other staff members – the shift manager and a bartender – were able to lock themselves in an offic e. “The three men stole money from a number of the hotel’s cash registers before fleeing the scene on foot.” Continues Page Six
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