Hotel robbed and staff threatened with a machete

A Gold Coast hotel came under terrifying attack by two men wielding a bat and machete on Sunday night.

A manhunt is now underway, trying to locate the two alleged offenders.

According to a Queensland Police Service spokesman, the staff at Coomera Lodge Hotel were allegedly threatened just before midnight when the men gained entry into the gaming room by smashing through a glass door. 

The hotel was closed at the time of the break in, but staff members were still on the premises. The offenders then escaped in a stolen vehicle.

“The men (allegedly) confronted a 48-year-old staff member and demanded he empty the content of the tills into a bag they were carrying,” he said.

“The men fled the hotel with the money and were seen to get into a stolen 2005 Nissan Navara with Queensland registration plates 504 ZYO. 

“No one was physically injured in the incident.”

The Coomera Lodge Hotel has been targeted on numerous occasions over the past few years.

In 2010, two staff members were leaving the hotel when they were confronted by two balaclava wearing men.

The staff members were taken back into the venue where the men robbed them at gun point and raided the safe.

In 2011, two days after Christmas, the hotel was victim to a smash-and-grab robbery. The woman charged with this robbery was caught on CCTV. 

In 2017, the hotel was attacked again by three men wearing balaclavas, one carrying a fire arm. Two employees were threatened at gun point before the trio escaped with a large sum of money.

Sunday night’s alleged robbery is still under police investigation. 

The owners of the hotel, Australian Venue Co, confirmed the robbery but due to the investigations being “ in the hands of the Queensland Police Service”, they were unable to make any further comments.