NSW: Armed robbers hold up Bondi beachfront hotel

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2007
NSW: Armed robbers hold up Bondi beachfront hotel

SYDNEY, Dec 6 AAP - Armed robbers have held up a popular hotel on Sydney's Bondi Beach,
assaulting a woman before making off with a substantial haul of cash, police say.

Two men, one of them possibly armed with a knife, entered the beachfront Hotel Bondi,
on Campbell Parade, at 2.40am (AEDT) today.

One of the men put a female staff member in a headlock after walking behind the front counter.

A second employee who came to her assistance was then forced to open the hotel safe.

Police said the men stole a "substantial" amount of cash before they fled on foot along
Curlewis Street.

A police spokeswoman said the hotel employees did not see any weapons.

"One of the staff members believes he had a knife but couldn't actually see it," the
spokeswoman said.

"It was in his pocket or up his sleeve."

The woman who was assaulted was uninjured but taken to Prince of Wales Hospital as a precaution.

A crime scene has been established and forensic experts are searching the hotel for evidence.

The first robber was described as being of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern appearance,
aged in his mid to late 20s, 175cm tall, of solid build with black spiky hair of about
three to four centimetres in length.

He was said to be wearing a white cap, blue denim shirt, gloves and a garment covering his mouth.

The second man was also described as being of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern appearance,
aged in his mid to late 20s, 170cm tall, of thin build with a gaunt face, with a small
amount of facial hair under his bottom lip.

He was said to be wearing a black cap with a logo, blue pants and a blue shirt.

Anyone with information was urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP sk/was/lh/bwl

KEYWORD: HOTEL

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