Armed robbery leaves Sydney hotel staff shaken, thieves flee empty-handed
A four-star Sydney hotel was the scene of an early-morning armed robbery that left staff shaken and the offenders empty-handed, after two men stole a small safe containing documents but no cash.
Police say the incident occurred at the Novotel Darling Square in Haymarket about 5.40am on Monday, when the two men confronted two 31-year-old staff members working at the hotel. The offenders threatened the employees before forcing them into a back office and instructing them to remain there while the men made their escape.
The pair left the hotel carrying a small, unopened safe, which investigators believe contained paperwork associated with the business rather than money or valuables. They fled the scene in a stolen beige 2013 Volvo station wagon, which had been taken from Petersham last month, travelling along Little Pier Street before heading towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Chief Inspector Gary Coffey said the staff members, a man and a woman, were distressed by the incident but did not suffer physical injuries.
Initially, police were told one of the offenders was armed with a firearm, but after reviewing CCTV footage, officers now believe the weapon was a screwdriver.
“This was a violent incident and we would encourage people not to approach the vehicle and not to approach the men who were involved,” Coffey said.
CCTV images released by NSW Police show two men with their faces covered, one wearing a grey hoodie and tracksuit pants, and the other dressed in a dark-coloured tracksuit. Investigators say one of the men was seen brandishing the screwdriver while threatening staff.
Despite the seriousness of the incident, police believe the robbery yielded nothing of value. Coffey said discussions with hotel management indicated the safe did not contain cash or high-value items.
“My understanding, based on conversations with the hotel management, is that the contents of the safe were of no particular value,” he said.
“We’re still going through exactly what was in the safe, but it was not a high value item at all.”
The incident highlights the vulnerability of hospitality venues operating during overnight and early-morning hours, particularly large hotels with 24-hour staffing. While no guests were reported to have been involved or affected, police say the offenders’ actions were aggressive and deliberate.
Authorities have confirmed they are examining extensive CCTV footage from inside the hotel, as well as forensic material collected at the scene. Mr Coffey said investigators are confident the evidence will assist in identifying those responsible and urged the men to surrender.
“We would very much encourage them to contact police and hand themselves in,” he said.
“There’s a significant amount of CCTV footage available inside the hotel. There’s forensic material that we’ve collected from the scene, and we certainly encourage them to come forward and hand themselves in.”
The stolen vehicle, bearing NSW registration CJZ 08Z, remains outstanding, and police have warned the public not to approach it if sighted.
Anyone with information relating to the robbery, the suspects, or the stolen vehicle has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Jonathan Jackson, 4th February 2026
