A MAN has been charged over the alleged armed robbery and kidnapping of a delivery driver in Wagga earlier this year.
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Following an investigation, Michael Carr, 19, of Mount Austin, was arrested at Wagga Police Station on Tuesday.
Mr Carr is accused of approaching a 29-year-old man, who was delivering bread to the Forest Hill FoodWorks on Allonby Avenue, and threatening him with a knife about 3am on May 16.
Police allege Mr Carr forced the delivery driver inside the supermarket while still armed and ordered him to withdraw money from an ATM. He is then accused of forcing the delivery driver into a white Suzuki Swift and driving them both towards Wagga.
Police claim the delivery driver was again forced to withdraw more cash from another ATM, this time on Lake Albert Road in Kooringal, before the man was left there and Mr Carr allegedly fled the scene.
The Suzuki Swift was allegedly stolen from an address on Franklin Drive, Estella.
Following the alleged kidnapping and robbery, the vehicle was abandoned at Harris Park in Turvey Park.
Riverina Police District crime manager Inspector Adrian Telfer said the alleged incident was "disturbing".
"This is a very serious matter, it was quite concerning for us and ultimately ... our detectives were able to arrest a 19-year-old who hails from Mount Austin," he said.
"A lot of police work has gone into this, so we are very pleased we've been able to put this man before the court."
In other news:
Mr Carr was charged with a string of offences, including robbery armed with offensive weapon, two counts of aggravated break and enter dwelling etc in company, break and enter house, detain person with intent to hold to ransom, steal motor vehicle, two counts of take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, and destroy or damage property.
Inspector Telfer said CCTV provided a starting point for police investigations.
"The stolen motor vehicle was also another starting point and we were able to very meticulously work our way through and discover some evidence that allowed our forensic police to help identify the [alleged offender]," he said.
It is further alleged Mr Carr broke into a grocery store in The Rock in the early hours of May 17 and stole more than $25,000 worth of cigarettes, alcohol and a wheelie bin.
Mr Carr was refused police bail to appear in Wagga Local Court yesterday. He was in custody at Junee and did not appear when his case was mentioned briefly yesterday afternoon.
Mr Carr did not apply for bail and it was formally refused by Magistrate Christopher Halburd.
The matter returns to court on September 30.
Inspector Telfer said the police's biggest concern was always for the wellbeing of victims of crime.
"What is the greatest concern to us in this case is the victim, he was obviously quite traumatised but thankfully, this brings about a good outcome for him," he said.