Meat-cleaver wielding bandit on the run after robberies in Grovedale, Whittington
A meat cleaver-wielding bandit is on the run after a string of crimes across Geelong’s south, including the robbery of a service station and the assault of a rideshare driver.
A meat cleaver-wielding bandit is on the run after a string of crimes across Geelong’s south. Detectives from the Geelong Crime Investigation Unit are hunting the offender after multiple robberies at the weekend.
Police allege a man robbed a service station on Pioneer Rd in Grovedale about 7pm on Friday.
“The offender threatened the staff attendant before walking behind the counter and taking cigarettes and food items before fleeing on an e-scooter,” a police spokesman said.
The same offender is alleged to have stolen from a car on Wilsons Rd in Whittington on Sunday morning.
“The offender smashed a car windscreen before gaining access to the vehicle,” the spokesman said.
The alleged robber was confronted by a male victim “before an altercation occurred” and the alleged thief fled on his scooter.
The victim sustained minor injuries.
Later that day, the same alleged offender ordered a rideshare from Bellerine St in Geelong about 1.20pm.
He asked the driver to pull over in the vicinity of Barwarre Rd in Grovedale, before he got out of the car and threatened the driver with a knife.
The man allegedly assaulted the driver, stole his wallet and ran off.
An investigation into the incidents is ongoing and detectives are making inquiries into the whereabouts of the offender.
A witness to the final incident, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Addy they were flagged down by the alleged victim, who was jumping a church fence and yelling that someone was stealing his car.
“We stopped in the roundabout and spoke to him – the (alleged offender) looked at us and then ran off towards the grasslands,” the witness said.
“Two other cars came to help and two blokes got out of those cars and went into the grasslands looking for the guy.”
Footage obtained by the Addy shows the alleged thief, who was wearing a puffer vest with what looks to be designer – or fake designer – handbags draped around his neck, pull out a meat cleaver as he ran away.
Anyone who witnessed the incidents, has CCTV/dashcam footage or any information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Originally published as Meat-cleaver wielding bandit on the run after robberies in Grovedale, Whittington
