ID :
207359
Thu, 09/15/2011 - 13:50
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Sydney police fear more stun gun attacks
SYDNEY (AAP) - Police in Sydney's inner west are on "high alert" over a gang of youngsters using stun guns in a series of robberies.
Two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, have been arrested but four or five others are believed to be on the loose.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Freudenstein on Thursday described the attacks as "random and worrying", warning that stun guns could be fatal.
"All up, we believe we are looking for six or seven offenders," he told reporters in Sydney.
Asked whether he was concerned there could be further strikes he said: "Yes we are, and we do have all our police on high alert".
The two arrests were made in the CBD following a spate of attacks in Chippendale, Rozelle, Wolli Creek and Ashfield on Wednesday night.
The victims, all but one of whom suffered shock, included a teenage woman, two taxi drivers as well as a store employee and a customer.
Mr Freudenstein said the robberies appeared to be "indiscriminate and opportunist".
"This seems to be an ad-hoc attack on people walking down the street at night and people in shops and taxis," he said.
"How they went about it last night was quite random and quite worrying, we haven't seen a spate like this using stun guns before."
Police are investigating three other incidents they believe to be related, including two robberies near Hyde Park and another at Earlwood.
He said each incident involved between two and four attackers, both men and women. All the offenders appeared to be linked to each other.
"We do have some pretty good leads ... we are very much encouraged by the arrests of these two people today," Comm Freudenstein said.
He said police hoped to lay charges later on Thursday.
The alleged offenders could face up to 14 years in prison.
"I'd like to make sure that (potential offenders) are aware that this offence carries 14 years," he said.
He warned stun guns were "extremely dangerous" and could be fatal.
"The police ones are calibrated under controlled conditions, but these ones ... you just don't know what they can do," he said.
Mr Freudenstein said an earlier robbery on Tuesday in Parramatta could also be related.
Two teenagers, aged 14 and 17, have been arrested but four or five others are believed to be on the loose.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Freudenstein on Thursday described the attacks as "random and worrying", warning that stun guns could be fatal.
"All up, we believe we are looking for six or seven offenders," he told reporters in Sydney.
Asked whether he was concerned there could be further strikes he said: "Yes we are, and we do have all our police on high alert".
The two arrests were made in the CBD following a spate of attacks in Chippendale, Rozelle, Wolli Creek and Ashfield on Wednesday night.
The victims, all but one of whom suffered shock, included a teenage woman, two taxi drivers as well as a store employee and a customer.
Mr Freudenstein said the robberies appeared to be "indiscriminate and opportunist".
"This seems to be an ad-hoc attack on people walking down the street at night and people in shops and taxis," he said.
"How they went about it last night was quite random and quite worrying, we haven't seen a spate like this using stun guns before."
Police are investigating three other incidents they believe to be related, including two robberies near Hyde Park and another at Earlwood.
He said each incident involved between two and four attackers, both men and women. All the offenders appeared to be linked to each other.
"We do have some pretty good leads ... we are very much encouraged by the arrests of these two people today," Comm Freudenstein said.
He said police hoped to lay charges later on Thursday.
The alleged offenders could face up to 14 years in prison.
"I'd like to make sure that (potential offenders) are aware that this offence carries 14 years," he said.
He warned stun guns were "extremely dangerous" and could be fatal.
"The police ones are calibrated under controlled conditions, but these ones ... you just don't know what they can do," he said.
Mr Freudenstein said an earlier robbery on Tuesday in Parramatta could also be related.
