At around 6.30pm, the two teenagers, a 17-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl, pulled into the Caltex service station on the Great Western Highway at Kelso for fuel. 

They reported that when the boy was inside paying for fuel, a man approached the girl sitting in the car and demanded money.

Chifley Local Area Command duty officer Inspector Andrew Spliet said the man allegedly grabbed the female and stole $2.

“He then approached the male as he was returning to his vehicle and [allegedly] threatened to shoot and stab him,” he said.

Inspector Spliet said the male driver was “fearing for his life” when the man demanded they drive him to Lithgow Railway Station.

“The young man said he’d take the man to Bathurst train station, and they were further threatened by the accused when driving,” Inspector Spliet said.

“The accused held a knife to the young man as he was driving.” 

“He [also] took $8 from the young man.”

Upon their arrival near the station, Inspector Spliet said the accused told the teenagers to follow him to the hotel across the road. It was at this point they ran away and called the police.

Inspector Spliet said thanks to the teenagers’ accurate description of the accused man, the police made a quick arrest.

“A man matching the description was seen on Durham Street at 12am [that same night] and was arrested and taken to the police station,” he said.

Police then charged the accused man with two counts of detain for advantage, aggravated robbery, aggravated assault with intent to rob, and was refused bail.

Despite the serious nature to the alleged crime, Inspector Spliet said it was not a “regular occurrence” in Bathurst.

If you witnessed the incident contact police on 6332 8699 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.