TAREE Police are have arrested and charged an 18-year-old man after an alleged armed robbery of a bakery in Wingham.
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At approximately 2.35pm on Wednesday May 27, a man entered McKeough's Cake Shop in Bent Street to purchase an item.
While the cash register was open the man allegedly reached over and removed a sum of cash from the till, brandishing a knife.
He then ran from the premises down a laneway to the rear of the shops.
At around 9.50pm the same night police arrested the man at a home in Summerville Street, Wingham.
He was taken to Taree Police Station and charged with robbery whilst armed and refused bail to appear at Forster Local Court the following day.
Thankfully nobody was hurt in the incident, and shop assistant Cheryl Ritchie, who was the staff member at the till when the robbery occurred, was back at work the next day.
Proprietor Dennis McKeough was out the back of the store when the incident happened.
"I'm kind of embarrassed by it, even though I know it's not my fault," said the quietly-spoken baker of the publicity that has ensued.
"Customers have been popping in all morning to ask if we're alright," he said.
"This is the first time anything like this has happened. We've had a few break-ins over the years.
"About three months ago early one morning they came in and took some drinks," Dennis said, adding that later on they noticed a missing tart case and cookie jar.
The alleged robbery is the latest in a succession of criminal incidences in Wingham, and is further ammunition for the push to have police stationed in the town.
It is ironic this event occurred on the day the Wingham Chronicle's print edition came out with a story headlined 'Bring back our police'.
It bears repeating that Taree Police are urging people to report ANY incident, no matter how small, to support the cause.
To report incidences, call Taree Police on 6552 0399, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or if it is an emergency, call 000.