CRN birthday smash and grab

CRN and Haymarket media staff recently celebrated the magazine’s 200th issue, with a few uninvited guests creating a memorable stir.

The packed-out birthday event held at a pub in the Sydney suburb of Rozelle, featured Karaoke and trivia contests.

However, at 10:55 pm three balaclava-clad thugs burst in, sporting a gun and several knives. Another thug acted as a lookout while the thieves ordered everyone to the floor and proceeded to rob the establishment.

CRN, other Haymarket staffers and guests withdrew tactically under the nearest table, but one prominent guest stood his ground, allegedly telling the criminals, “well if you're going to shoot me, do it, I'm not lying down for you.”

“I've beaten up bigger and smarter thieves than you."

The reseller later admitted to having worked as a bouncer at one of Sydney’s more notorious King's Cross nightclubs.

The thieves then made off in a red Subaru Liberty.

While the robbery added some spice to the evening, the highlight remained a golden Karaoke moment earlier that night, when almost 200 IT channelers stood on their tables and belted out ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ with their hearts and souls.

After the relative success of the evening, CRN is considering more frequent gatherings of the boisterous IT channel crowd, although next time, sans meathead thugs.

NSW Police report that they believe the men responsible for the incident were also behind a similar hold-up the same evening.

Police say three men entered a betting agency on Ramsay Road, Haberfield and threatened a male console operator with a firearm. The offenders then emptied a number of cash drawers before ordering the 21-year-old employee to open a safe. The men then escaped on foot.

CRN and Haymarket thank everyone for their attendance on the night and hope all present remain in good health and humour.