Rockingham armed robbery: Man charged over threatening staff with tomahawk and stealing from Shiels Jewellers

Police have charged a man who is believed to have armed himself with a tomahawk before allegedly robbing a Rockingham jewellery store in broad daylight. Police say two men on an orange motorbike with no number plates pulled up to local shopping complex Rockingham Centre about 10.30am on Tuesday. One of the pair allegedly entered the Shiels Jewellers store inside brandishing a tomahawk and threatened staff before leaving with some items. Police said members of the public then intervened, with several good Samaritans and shopping centre security detaining the man until police arrived and arrested him. A 27-year-old man has since been charged with armed robbery over the incident and he will appear before Rockingham Magistrates Court on May 19. It is understood the stolen items were recovered and returned to Shiels. A spokesperson for Vicinity Centres, the retail property group that manages Rockingham Centre, confirmed it was assisting police with the matter. “The safety of our customers, retailers, team and the wider community is our priority,” the spokesperson said. “As the matter is the subject of a police investigation, we are unable to provide any further detail.”