Arrests after Montrose IGA allegedly targeted by seven youths who stole alcohol, cigarettes

Police have arrested three boys, one aged just 12, after a swarming group of youths allegedly stole alcohol, cigarettes and cash during a rampage across eight shops in Melbourne.

A group of seven boys have robbed the Montrose IGA.

Three boys have been arrested following alleged thefts from bottle shops and stores across Melbourne, including the Montrose IGA.

Police allege six bottle shops and two stores were targeted in Bentleigh, Burwood, Cheltenham, Clarinda, Fitzroy, Hampton, and Montrose, where alcohol, cigarettes and cash were stolen, between Friday, August 18 and Tuesday, August 22.

Police have been told employees were threatened, but not harmed.

Detectives from the Moorabbin crime investigation unit arrested three boys, aged 12, 14 and 16, about midday Wednesday:

They were all expected to appear at an out of sessions court hearing on Wednesday.

It follows the arrests of four boys ranging in age from 12-16 on August 18, over the alleged swarming of 28 separate liquor stores and supermarkets across Melbourne between August 3 and August 15.

A group of seven boys allegedly stormed into the Montrose IGA on Tuesday night, stealing cash, alcohol and cigarettes.

Two young staff members were working in the liquor department in the Mt Dandenong Rd store when the group allegedly stormed in about 7.44pm, throwing stolen items into bags.

Management of the store told the Herald Sun the group told the distressed staff members to get out of the way and stand aside while they went on their stealing rampage.

The group also ripped the till from the cash register.

Police said after leaving the store, the group fled towards the city along Canterbury Rd in a silver SUV, which did not have licence plates.

CCTV of the incident has been passed onto police.

The staff members are now being offered counselling.

It’s not the first time the store has been targeted by thieves.

A would-be thief came unstuck after ramming his ute through the Montrose IGA in the middle of the night last year, with a new security system stopping him in his tracks.

The management of the store said they would rather be broken into “100 times at night” rather than when staff members were working, as the safety of staff was their main concern.