Arrest made after armed incidents

Police are seeking public assistance following a late-night armed incident at a Newell Highway petrol station.

Initial inquiries suggest the matter is linked to the forced entry to a home in Curlewis which occurred almost two hours later.

Just after 12am on Tuesday, two men – one armed with a firearm – entered the Narrabri business while a third man was waiting outside in a Mitsubishi Triton.

The men allegedly threatened a console operator and a customer with the firearm, demanding cash and keys to a car.

Attempts were made to steal the motor vehicle and when they failed, the pair fled in the Triton with cash.

About 2am on Tuesday, two men – one armed with a firearm – forced entry into a home on Railway Street, Curlewis, demanding cash and drugs.

The pair allegedly threatened and assaulted the occupants of the home – a man and woman – before they fled with a mobile phone in a white Nissan Qashqai.

Four children home at the time were not injured, NSW Police advised in a statement following the incidents.

About 3.20am, police sighted a Nissan on the Oxley Highway, Bective, and attempted to stop the vehicle due to excessive speed.

When it failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit was terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.

The white Nissan Qashqai had been last seen heading towards Gunnedah and was later sighted by police.

The Triton was located burnt out in Lincoln Street, Gunnedah at 5am.

Officers attached to Oxley Police District are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incidents.

Police will allege in court the Nissan was involved in two fail to pays at Attunga and Gunnedah service stations.

Following several pursuits through Gunnedah from 8.30am on Tuesday, police sighted the Nissan on Heiler Street and attempted to stop the vehicle just after 3pm.

Police activated warning devices when the Nissan drove onto a nature strip colliding with a fence before crashing into a police vehicle, in an attempt to flee.

No-one was injured as a result of the collision, police reported.

A 23-year-old man was arrested and taken to Gunnedah Police Station and charged with two counts of steal motor vehicle, two counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon, four counts of use offensive weapon in company with intent indictable offence, specially aggravated break and enter commit serious indictable offence-weapon, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company of others, damage property by fire/explosive, drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous, Class A motor vehicle exceed speed more than 45kmh, four counts of police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed, two counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, possess unregistered firearm and possess unauthorised firearm.

During a search of the vehicle officers located and seized a rifle, a knife and several sets of car keys.

The Moree man was refused bail and was due to appear in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday, August 2.

As inquiries continue, anyone with information in relation to the incidents, or has CCTV or dashcam footage is urged to call Tamworth Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.