Police will allege about 5.50pm on Wednesday, a 21-year-old man got into a taxi outside a service station on the Pacific Highway, South Kempsey, and directed the driver to Leith Street, West Kempsey.

Upon arriving at the location, the man threatened the 68-year-old male driver with a knife, before taking cash and fleeing on foot.

The driver attended Kempsey Police Station and reported the matter to officers from Mid North Coast Police District.

About 10.35am yesterday (Thursday February 28), a 73-year-old man was returning to his vehicle in the underground carpark of a supermarket on Smith Street, Kempsey, when a 21-year-old man approached him and threatened him with a knife.

The younger man took the older man’s keys and an amount of cash, before entering the vehicle and driving away.

Following inquiries, shortly after 10.40am, police attended a home on Tozer Street, West Kempsey, where they arrested the 21-year-old Queensland man, and he was taken to Kempsey Police Station.

He was charged with robbery while armed with offensive weapon (x2), and aggravated take and drive conveyance while armed.

He was refused bail to appear at Kempsey Local Court today. 

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