Teen charged over York St knife hold-up

An Albany teenager has been charged with attempted robbery over last Friday’s alleged knifepoint hold-up at Albany’s Gemini Book Shop on York Street.

Albany police have charged a 16-year-old boy this week over the incident, after releasing CCTV footage of a suspect on Tuesday.

Detectives had urged the public to come forward if they recognised him.

As a result, police were directed to a budget accommodation provider, where they found a room the suspect was temporarily residing in due to being displaced from home.

Several key objects were allegedly located in that room after a forensic search, which led to the teenager’s arrest on Tuesday evening.

He is due to appear at Albany’s Children’s Court next Friday.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Emmett said the alleged hold-up was a very unusual act.

“It is uncommon to have this type of incident in Albany and it looks like it was just a one-off act of stupidity by this young man,” he said.

Detective Senior Constable Chris Hitchen commended book shop owner Jacquie Bratby for her brave reaction to the incident.

“She’s clearly a very resilient woman — was more than happy to continue trading as usual,” he said.

Const. Hitchen said he could not remember the last time there was a hold-up on York Street.