![Riverina Police District Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Winston Woodward](https://regionriverina.com.au/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2022/08/IMG_0178-1200x900.jpg)
Riverina Police District Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Winston Woodward: Photo: Shri Gayathirie Rajen.
A 26-year-old man has been charged following an alleged armed robbery at the Metro petrol station in Cootamundra.
Police were called to the service station on the corner of Olympic Highway and Hurley Street on Tuesday 2 August at about 7:40 am following reports of an alleged armed robbery.
The Metro employee was allegedly threatened with a knife by a man wearing a black balaclava mask, but the employee was not physically injured.
The man allegedly stole cash and cigarettes before fleeing in a white utility.
Riverina Police District Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector Winston Woodward said Highway Patrol had seen the vehicle around Cootamundra and as a result of it, they knew its whereabouts.
He said police attended the residence where the vehicle was parked and a 26-year-old man was arrested and brought back to Cootamundra Police Station.
The man has been charged with an alleged armed robbery and three other charges were also laid with some related to traffic offences.
Police allege the man is solely responsible for the crime and was refused bail.
Inspector Woodward congratulated the general duties team at Cootamundra Police for their great community-based policing.
“The commander is very pleased with their (police) actions,” Inspector Woodward said.
“The people of Cootamundra should be pleased with their local police and the way they conducted themselves yesterday (Tuesday) in relation to the investigation.
The 26-year-old man will face Wagga Local Court.