Alleged robber stole $13,000 at knifepoint in Old Canberra Inn

Staff at the Old Canberra Inn were allegedly threatened before $13,000 was stolen. Photo: Michelle Kroll.

Staff at the Old Canberra Inn were allegedly repeatedly threatened by a knife-wielding robber before he made off with $13,000 cash, as well as bottles of alcohol.

A man and his friend originally went into the inn at Lyneham at about 9:40 pm on Saturday (29 June), where they ordered beer and sausage rolls, police allege in court documents.

One of the staff members thought the man was drunk and described him as “gurning”, as he looked like he was grinding his teeth and moving his jaw from side to side.

The pair eventually left. However, just after midnight on Sunday (1 July), the inn had closed for the night and several staff members were sitting around inside when the man allegedly appeared behind the bar and pulled out a knife with a seven-inch blade.

He allegedly told a staff member, “Don’t be a hero or I’ll kill you”, and “Take me to the safe”.

It is alleged three staff members were taken into an office where they gathered money and handed about $13,000 cash to the man.

He also allegedly demanded their most expensive bottle of alcohol, so they gave him a $50 bottle of Nikka whiskey and a $60 bottle of Diplomatico rum.

While this was happening, he allegedly made comments like, “This is the sharpest knife in the world”, and threatened to stab and kill the staff members.

He allegedly left a short time later and staff called the police.

Two of them thought the alleged robber was the same person who had been at the inn earlier that night.

Andrew Whitfield, a 31-year-old from Curtin, was arrested on Sunday (30 June) over the allegations and was handed charges of robbery and burglary.

Police interviewed him and he made a number of comments denying his involvement in the alleged robbery.

Whitfield appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (1 July) and applied for bail, but it was refused. He was remanded in custody to next face court on 15 July.