Baseball bat-wielding shop owner’s son foils Preston milk bar robbery
ARMED robbers who raided a milk bar in Melbourne’s north were foiled by the shop owner’s son, who confronted them with a baseball bat after they attacked his father. WATCH THE VIDEO
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ARMED robbers who raided a milk bar in Melbourne’s north last night were foiled by the owner’s son, who confronted them with a baseball bat.
Ben Lin, 31, said he was making dinner while watching a police show in a back room when four masked robbers attacked his 54-year-old father Xing Ming Lin at their Preston milk bar about 8.30pm.
One of the alleged robbers, a 17-year-old boy, was restrained by the Lins, and has now been charged with multiple offences.
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“I was just cooking dinner and watching TV, seeing police arrest people when the four people came into the store,” Mr Lin said.
“I then had to do what the police on the TV did and arrest one of them.”
Mr Lin said he was shocked when he saw his father being attacked.
“They didn’t stop to talk, they just went straight to try and knock him out,” he said. “I thought they were trying to kill my father.
“I didn’t have enough time to call police or ring the alarm.”
One robber immediately jumped over the counter and started assaulting Mr Lin’s 54-year-old father with what appeared to be a small cricket bat.
Two other robbers then jumped over the counter and started stealing cigarettes while the fourth stayed at the door acting as lookout.
A brief scuffle followed, with one of the robbers using a wooden bat to attack the two men.
“He (Xing Ming) was badly hurt,” Mr Lin said. “The whole thing didn’t last longer than two or three minutes.
“He has cuts, marks and bruises all over his face and hands.”
Mr Lin described the attackers as calculated, tall and strong.
“They were wearing gloves and seemed to know what they were doing,” he said. “We’re now worried something like this could happen again.”
Acting Detective Sergeant Liz Fenn-Wallace, of Banyule Crime Investigation Unit, said the robbers were surprised when the store owner’s son emerged from a back room swinging the baseball bat.
“They targeted the store because they thought it was vulnerable but they obviously didn’t bank on the son being there with the baseball bat,” Acting Sgt Fenn-Wallace said.
“The offenders were scared off and they then realised their mate was being restrained by the victims.
“They have run back and assaulted the main victim to try and free their co-offender but failed.
“They have then run from the store into Raglan Street to a white car.”
The robber who was restrained by the Lins was arrested by police.
The 17-year-old appeared at children’s court today charged with armed robbery, intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury, and unlawful assault.
He was remanded in custody and will appear before court again on June 13.
Xing Ming was taken to hospital with non-life threatening facial injuries while his son Ben was treated at the scene for minor facial injuries.
The same store was targeted by robbers last year.
“It is a sickening attack on a vulnerable person,” Acting Sgt Fenn-Wallace said.
“The same victim was robbed last year and has suffered mental injuries as a result.”
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The weapon used to attack the store owner was not recovered from the scene.
Police believe the three robbers they are hunting are caucasian. One was wearing a distinctive Adidas jacket. They fled the scene in a white sedan.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.