Gun shop robbed by masked trio with guns, sledgehammer
UPDATE: FIVE handguns and a hunting rifle are in the hands of criminals after three masked armed bandits robbed a suburban camping store.
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FIVE handguns and a hunting rifle are in the hands of criminals after three masked armed bandits robbed a suburban camping store.
Three young men — armed with a gun, a sledgehammer and a metal pole — stormed South Morang’s Hunting, Fishing and Camping store yesterday.
Terrifying staff, the balaclava-wearing bandits demanded guns.
They smashed a glass counter and calmly collected the weapons during the six-minute raid, before fleeing in a Volkswagon Golf.
“The grave concern is that more firearms are on the street in the hands of people who are prepared to use them,” Whittlesea Detective Senior Constable Leigh Cole said.
“They’ve come in with a silver handgun ... it now looks as though they’ve got five more,” he said.
Jeff Lay, who owns the South Morang Eatery, was with his four-year-old son when the holdup unfolded.
“I was dumping rubbish in the bin with the little boy ... he was walking close to the men (fleeing),” he said.
“When I realised something was wrong I told him not to go any further. It’s pretty scary — it could happen to anyone.”
The raid was the second robbery at the Murdoch Rd complex in a month. The neighbouring Bicycle Centre was robbed of $16,000 worth of bikes before Christmas.
Owner Shannon Johnson said he was concerned to hear of another robbery.
“It’s just unfortunate that these crimes are expected (to happen) and accepted more these days,” he said.
Sen-Det Cole said the trio, aged in their 20s and wearing gloves and masks, appeared “organised”.
“They’ve taken their time and their actions were cool and collected, as though they knew what they were doing,” he said.
“We’re sick and tired of this type of offending.
“These groups of youths are becoming more and more brazen ... certainly there is a fear on one of these occasions someone is going to get seriously hurt.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.