Se June Park fronts court over convenience store holdup

Police hardly broke a sweat in arresting an unsophisticated crim less than two hours after he robbed a Carlton store at knifepoint using his own car.

A bumbling Melbourne crook who robbed a convenience store while armed with a large kitchen knife used his own car in the offending, with police catching him less than two hours later at home.

Se June Park, 23, disguised himself before walking into the CT Mart at Carlton about 1am on November 15, 2023 and demanded the attendant hand over cash from the till.

He was on bail at the time on a charge of theft from a pharmacy just 10 days prior.

Park pleaded guilty to armed robbery of the convenience store and was sentenced by the County Court on Friday to 18 months community corrections order.

Judge Pardeep Tiwana said Park’s young age and good prospects for rehabilitation were among factors that saved him from going to jail.

However, he said Park would need to kick his cannabis addiction if he was to be successfully rehabilitated.

It took police less than two hours to arrest Se June Park for the aggravated robbery of a convenience store at Carlton.

Court documents stated Park drove his Volkswagen Passat to Queensberry Pl in Carlton and was seen walking west along Cornell Place wearing a mask, gloves and holding a kitchen knife about 1am on November 15, 2023.

He brandished the knife at the store attendant and said “All of the money, hurry, hurry.”

The store employee emptied the till that contained $1050 before Park escaped, running down Cornell Place.

Police conducted a vehicle check which revealed the Volkswagen Passat was registered in his name and officers found the car parked on the street where Park lived.

They also saw Park sitting on the second floor of the balcony of his address where he was arrested.

Judge Tiwana said while Park attempted to disguise himself and his offending involved a degree of planning, his actions in targeting a man working alone lacked sophistication.

Park told a psychologist that he didn’t think of his actions and acted impulsively.

He said he felt bad for the victim and wanted to apologise but could not because of his bail conditions.

In April, he was sentenced to a 12-month good behaviour bond without conviction for theft from a pharmacy.