Three men have been charged following two alleged home invasions in Sydney’s south-west, including an incident in which a woman was allegedly threatened with a knife and sexually assaulted in her own home.
Police were called to a property in Marinea Street, Arncliffe, at about midnight on Tuesday after reports that a group of men had forced their way inside.
A 31-year-old woman was allegedly threatened with a knife, sexually assaulted and robbed of money. She was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Just over 48 hours later, at about 12.30am on Thursday, officers responded to a second reported home invasion at a unit in Jacobs Street, Bankstown.
Police allege three men forced their way into the property and assaulted a 32-year-old woman before stealing money. She was also treated in hospital for minor injuries.
Detectives from local police and the state’s sex crimes squad launched a joint investigation into the two incidents.
Three search warrants were carried out across greater Sydney at about 7.45pm on Thursday, with assistance from the riot squad.
A 20-year-old man was arrested in Belmore and charged with offences including two counts of choking a person, depriving a person of liberty, assault and aggravated robbery.
A 19-year-old man was arrested in Punchbowl and charged with two counts of choking a person, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated break and enter, robbery, using an offensive weapon and failing to comply with a digital evidence access order.
An 18-year-old man was arrested in Greenacre and charged with similar offences.
The two younger men are due to appear at Bankstown court on Friday, while the 20-year-old is expected to face Burwood Local Court.
