POLICE are seeking help from the public to locate three masked men who held up the Pacific Palms Recreation Club on Sunday night.
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At about 10.10pm, three men wearing black hoodies and armed with a machete and a crowbar confronted three employees outside the club as they attempted to lock the doors for the night.
The offenders forced the staff members back into the building before one of them struck a 28-year-old male staff member on the arm with the machete.
The men then forced an employee to open the club’s safe and raided an ATM as well as poker machines, obtaining a large amount of cash.
The offenders tied the employees up with cable ties in a bar area before stealing one of the employee’s cars from the car park - a purple Holden Commodore which they used to flee the area.
One of the employees was able to alert police soon after. The 28-year-old employee was taken to John Hunter Hospital on Sunday night where he underwent surgery for a severe laceration to his arm and a fractured bone. The man is recovering in hospital and is in a stable condition.
No other employees were injured during the robbery.
Detective acting Inspector and crime manager Natalie Stephens said the public are being urged to contact police if they have any information which may assist police with their investigations.
The stolen purple Holden commodore is a 2005 model with NSW registration plates BI12AY.
“If anyone sees the vehicle they should not approach it and should notify police immediately,” Inspector Stephens said.
The club’s manager said it was a traumatic experience for the employees and stressed the importance of local business owners and residents to be vigilant.
“Nothing like this has happened to the club before. Not that I’m aware of anyway,” he said. “The staff remained calm throughout the whole ordeal and did what they were told to do. No one else was injured.
“I think it’s important that people are aware of this and to remain vigilant.”
The manager said the club was open for business as usual on Monday.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or suspicious behaviour in the area on Sunday night is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
