A man has been charged after he allegedly held a knife to a customer’s head while stealing items worth thousands from a Sydney shopping centre.
Lachlan Ebejer, 24, allegedly stole numerous items from a store at Westfield in Parramatta about 9.30am.
Ebejer allegedly started at Chemist Warehouse, pocketing an Adidas Ice Dive perfume and Studex earrings.
He then allegedly entered Crystal Gifts and Homewares, picked up a knife and held it to a customer’s head.
The 36-year-old man kept him at bay and made the triple zero call.
Police eventually tracked him nearby where he allegedly attempted to assault an officer.
They seized the earrings, the perfume and 69 Playstation Gift Cards valued at almost $3000.
The owner of Crystal Gifts and Homewares says the entire ordeal only lasted a matter of seconds but could have been much worse.
Police documents tendered to court say Ebejer was already on bail, charged for urinating on fresh food at a Woolworths on George street only last month.
In court Ebejer appeared calm as his lawyer made an application for bail on mental health grounds but the judge refused.
Ebejer will front court again tomorrow.