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Three men accused of targeting women who live alone before allegedly gagging them with duct tape and threatening them with knives have been stopped before a suspected third attack.

Detectives have charged three men following the alleged sexual assault, choking, and robbery of two women. 9News
Sex Crimes Squad detectives have charged the men following the alleged sexual assault, choking, and robbery of two women during separate home invasions across Sydney’s south.
Police were first called to a home on Marinea Street in Arncliffe about midnight on Tuesday, after a group of men allegedly forced their way in.
Once inside, they allegedly threatened a 31-year-old resident before holding her down and raping her.
Detective Superintendent Virginia Gorman alleged the men sexually assaulted the woman, stole cash, and fled.

Police were first called to a home on Marinea Street in Arncliffe. 9News
The woman was treated in hospital for minor physical injuries.
Just two days later, officers were called to a unit on Jacobs Street in Bankstown where police allege the same three men forced entry, assaulted a 32-year-old woman who was home alone, and stole cash.
She was also treated in hospital for minor injuries.
Superintendent Gorman called the alleged attacks “excessively violent” and further alleged the suspects “specifically targeted” vulnerable women after tracing their movements.
She accused the men of using extreme force and weapons to intimidate the women.
“They were armed with a knife, they used duct tape to restrain them, [the women] had duct tape over their mouths,” she said.
State Crime Command’s Sex Crimes Squad established Strike Force Forela to track down the group.
Superintendent Gorman credited “good hard slog, old-school detective work” for uncovering the suspects.

Investigators further alleged the three men were on their way to target a third victim before police intervened on Thursday night. 9News
Investigators further alleged the three men were on their way to target a third victim before police intervened on Thursday night.
Detectives executed search warrants at properties in Belmore, Punchbowl, and Greenacre on Thursday, arresting three men: Adam Fakhouri, 18, Arman Nangyal, 19, and Chawkat Ibrahim El Cheikh, 20.
The trio were charged with a combined 19 offences, with each accused facing up to 20 years behind bars.

Superintendent Gorman called the alleged attacks “excessively violent”. 9News
The 20-year-old Belmore man, El Cheikh, was charged with aggravated break and enter, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, two counts of choking with intent, common assault and using an offensive weapon in company.
The Punchbowl man, Nangyal, was charged with aggravated break and enter, two counts of aggravated sexual assault, two counts of choking with intent, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, common assault, using an offensive weapon in company, and failing to comply with a digital access order.
The Greenacre teen, Fakhouri, faced similar charges, including aggravated break and enter, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, two counts of choking with intent, common assault, and using an offensive weapon in company.
“We have charged them with the highest offences,” Superintendent Gorman said.
While the women suffered minor physical injuries, Superintendent Gorman warned the psychological toll would linger.
All three men were refused bail at Burwood Local Court on Friday.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).