Mastermind theory in violent Toorak jewellery store robbery
JEWELLERY stolen in a brazen Toorak heist is likely to have been melted down for gold, industry insiders say, as police continue their hunt for the trio behind the attack.
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JEWELLERY which was stolen in a brazen heist in Toorak is likely to have been melted down for gold.
Dramatic CCTV footage showed three men enter Imp Jewellery in Toorak Rd shortly before 11am on October 25 before one of them pointed a gun in manager Stevan Morrow’s face and demanded he open a safe.
Two of the men — one armed with a machete and the other with a baseball bat — smashed up glass counters to steal the jewels.
Mr Morrow bravely refused to cower to the robber’s demands and chased the thieves towards the entrance before pushing the gunman out the front door.
In a statement, Victoria Police said there was no update and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Herald Sun understands police are probing the theory that the young men who carried out the robbery were doing so on the orders of somebody else.
The name of the store was inscribed on the jewellery, making it difficult for the thieves to sell the items.
A high-end jewellery trader said: “There would have to be somebody organising this ... these kids wouldn’t have been able to do it on their own.
“It is highly likely the jewellery would have ended up with more organised people who collect it.
“These would be easy to trace back to the jewellery store so it is likely they would have been melted down for gold.”
The trio escaped with jewels valued at around $200,000 during the two minute smash-and-grab raid before fleeing in a getaway car.
The silver Hyundai, which had been recently stolen in Glenroy, made a dangerous U-turn then disappeared down a side street.
Speaking to the Herald Sun this week, Mr Morrow said: “We still have staff who have not come back to work since it happened.
“We just need to get on with it. You can’t let these guys win. We still have a business to run.
“Lets hope the police catch them soon but courts are so lenient at the moment they will be back out on the street in no time.”
Police yesterday arrested a 59-year-old man in relation to an unrelated robbery at an Ormond jewellery store on November 24.
The alleged robbery took place on Katandra Rd at about 1.40pm.
A man armed with a firearm demanded a staff member open a safe.
The staff member refused and a fight took place which resulted in the victim being hit on the head with the firearm.
Detectives executed a search warrant on Friday morning at a residential address in Stephanie Court, Carrum Downs, before arresting the suspect.
Anyone with any information about either case is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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