Two Launceston men have been charged following robberies alleged to have occurred at the Riverside Hotel and a private residence at Travellers Rest on Sunday 20 September.

On Tuesday the 22^nd of December 2015 members of the Launceston Criminal Investigation Branch arrested a 27-year old Launceston man, who appeared in an after hours court sitting on Tuesday evening and was remanded in custody.

This is the second arrest for these matters, with a 23- year- old Launceston man being arrested on Monday the 14^th of December 2015. Both men have been charged with burglary, two counts of aggravated armed robbery, aggravated burglary, motor vehicle stealing, and firearms offences.

Police will allege that the men smashed their way into the Riverside Hotel, armed with a handgun and a hammer, assaulted staff, and stole a quantity of cash, before driving off at high speed in a ‘get away’ car.

Shortly after the robbery at the Riverside Hotel the men crashed their car at the Pateena Road roundabout. After crashing the car the men forced their way into a Travellers Rest home, threated the owner with the handgun, and demanded a set of car keys. Both men stole a white Toyota Hilux from the residence. The stolen Hilux was recovered by police in the Kings Meadows area later that night.

Detective Senior Constable Gavin Chugg from the Launceston Criminal Investigation Branch said that the arrests were the result of an ongoing investigation.

“Tasmania Police would like to acknowledge the assistance received from members of the public regarding these particularly serious crimes,” Detective Chugg said.