A who allegedly threatened a staff member of a Richmond licensed premises with a handgun during a 2014 robbery has faced court.
Police will allege that after midnight on September 27, 2014, two men armed with a handgun and knife entered the licensed premise on the corner of East Market and Windsor streets, Richmond.
"The men threatened a staff member before stealing cash and were last seen running on East Market Street before entering a Holden Commodore sedan on Francis Street," police said in a statement.
No one was injured in the incident.
State Crime Command Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives commenced investigations into the incident, believing it was linked to the alleged armed robbery of a jewellery store on the state's Central Coast nearly 18 years ago.
In that incident, two men armed with a firearm entered an Erina store about 2.50pm on October 25, 2001, threatening staff before stealing cash and jewellery.
They were last seen entering a blue Holden Commodore sedan, being driven by a third man, police stated.
"As the vehicle was fleeing the scene, one of the men leant out of the vehicle and fired a shot at an off-duty police officer, who was pursuing them on foot," police said.
Following extensive inquiries, a 47-year-old man was arrested at Camperdown about 10am on Thursday, July 18.
He was taken to Newtown Police Station and charged with two counts of robbery while armed with dangerous weapon and shoot at person with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
"Police will allege in court that the man was armed with a firearm during both armed robberies and fired a shot at an off-duty probationary constable at Erina," police stated.
The Glebe man was refused bail and appeared at Newtown Local Court on July 19.
Investigations are continuing, and police are appealing for anyone with information that may assist detectives to identify other people involved.
Those with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.