A number of staff are currently seeking legal advice after the handling of an armed hold-up at North Haven Bowling and Recreation Club in April.
Port Macquarie man Martin James Ballengary, 26, of Dangar Street pleaded guilty to the robbery in company and will face a further sentencing in July.
Facts tendered in court revealed that police had been monitoring the conversation of Ballengary and associates through telephone intercept from March 24.
On April 4 Ballengary was monitored talking on his mobile phone referring to the “green light tomorrow.”
Police believe he intended to commit a robbery with co-accused accomplice Kevin Dickson.
On April 5 police began monitoring the conversations of Ballengary and associates just before 2pm in the Kempsey area.
Another call was made to co-accused Anthony Moylan to ask to use his car.
Dickson, Ballengary and another accomplice Benjamin Wilson, allegedly got into a car registered to Wilson.
Police followed them to the North Haven Bowling and Recreation Club at 5.10pm when they began driving south on the Pacific Highway.
At 7.25pm the men were seen by police driving around the club but then walked into Woodford Road.
The men drove around the club again at 8pm and the car was seen in Cook Street around 9pm.
The club was closed and locked up at 10.20pm when the five offenders allegedly smashed glass doors and entered the club at the front entrance.
Inside three staff members and a security guard were ordered to the floor.
The wrists and feet of three of the victims were bound with cable ties and the manager was commanded to turn off all the lights.
An offender, armed with a knife then ordered the duty manager to show him the safe and “threatened to kill him” if he didn’t hurry up.
The thieves were confronted by police after leaving the club at 10.30pm where they recovered more than $50,000, two knifes, and a hammer from the offenders.
Former barman Mick Murray said he and other staff were disappointed police didn’t arrest offenders prior to the hold-up, given they knew a possible robbery may occur in the area.
“What we’re cranky with is the fact that it happened and more should have been done to prevent it,” he said.
“They (the police) followed them around all night and still let them come in the door,” he continued.
“A detective said ‘we’re sorry you had to go through that but we needed to catch them come out and it was no good getting them on the way in because you get them with nothing.”
Clubs NSW CEO David Costello said he too was concerned with the handling of the “traumatic” event.
“The prevalence of armed hold-ups in clubs is increasing and clearly we look to the support and professionalism of the NSW police force in preventing hold-ups occurring,” he said.
“I would’ve expected that nobody should put a customer, staff member or member of the public in danger when I feel that the crime, conspiracy to commit an armed robbery hold-up would’ve been sufficient to arrest the alleged offenders before they entered the club rather then their departure from the club.”
At this stage police are unable to comment as a review is being conductedinto the matter.
Offenders will reappear in court on July 9 via video link.
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