Knife threat sparks fear at Newcomb shopping centre

A frightened worker has described how a teen allegedly armed with a knife caused chaos at a Geelong shopping centre.

Newcomb Central Shopping Centre. Picture: Google Maps

A woman feared she was “going to get stabbed” when an armed teen allegedly wielded a knife at a busy Newcomb shopping centre on Tuesday.

The woman said a group of more than four boys were “throwing cans and yelling” outside Aldi at Newcomb Central Shopping Centre about 1pm on Tuesday.

The woman, who declined to be named, said staff yelled at the teens to leave and called police, but said the boys later returned in a bigger group.

By 5pm, the group had grown to seven and became so loud and aggressive that police were called again, the woman said.

She said she heard people yelling, “Knife”.

“I thought I was going to get stabbed,” she said.

“I cried from fear, and I don’t usually get any anxiety.”

“We should feel safe coming to work.”

Victoria Police spokeswoman Leonie Johnson confirmed police were investigating reports of a teen armed with a knife at the shopping centre.

She said police responded to the scene and conducted patrols of the area, however the group had fled the scene.

“There were no physical injuries reported,” Ms Johnson said.

A shop owner in the centre, who also did not wish to be named for fear of her safety, said the group of boys hung around the area often.

“They’re feral teens hanging around, they just cause trouble at the centre,” she said.

“Unfortunately there’s been no proactive (action) preventing it.”

She said she had worked at the centre for more than two decades, but was worried these instances were increasing.

She said she had recently been threatened over the counter.

“It's a common occurrence,” she said.

“I’ve called the police once this month already.

“More needs to be done to increase security.”

Newcomb Central management refused to comment.

Ms Johnson urged anyone with information or CCTV footage to come forward.

“Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation,” Ms Johnson said.

It comes after Lara Primary School was plunged into lockdown on May 30, following reports of a man acting suspiciously on Alkara Ave.

While conducting a search of the man’s bag, officers discovered and seized a machete.

The 24-year-old was arrested and expected to be charged on summons.

The Victorian government banned the sale of machetes late last month following a horrific knife attack at Northland Shopping Centre.

A statewide ban on possessing a large edged weapon – which is the first in the nation – won’t come into effect until September 1.

According to the government, a record number of knives were seized from Victorian streets in 2024.

Originally published as Knife threat sparks fear at Newcomb shopping centre