Toorakâs IMP Jewellery store targeted in armed robbery again
UPDATE: A JEWELLERY store manager was beaten with a gun after becoming the victim of a frightening armed robbery for a second time in three months, and the heist was caught on video by a bystander.
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A JEWELLERY store manager was beaten with a gun after becoming the victim of a frightening armed robbery for a second time in three months.
Stevan Morrow, of IMP Jewellers in Toorak Village, was struck with the firearm as four men burst into the store about 1pm yesterday.
Dramatic video footage obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun showed members of the gang — one brandishing a pistol — exit the store before returning to smash glass and grab more booty.
The group, all of African appearance, fled with jewellery, stolen from display cases, to a waiting getaway car driven by a fifth man and drove away from Toorak Rd.
Police pursued for 8km but were forced to cease the chase at Punt Rd, Richmond, because of danger to the public as the getaway car travelled at high speed and crossed on to the wrong side of the road to escape.
A black Honda Civic was found yesterday in Collingwood.
Mr Morrow faced down a gang of bandits as recently as October, when a gun again was pointed at his head in a $200,000 heist.
Store co-owner Denis Kelleway was outraged at the second heist.
“They (criminals) don’t seem to care, nothing happens to them anyway,” he said. “Our manager was hit over the head with a gun, the ambulance checked him out, but he was very, very shaken.”
Sgt Tim Lambourne said links to the previous holdup would be examined.
“It’s the middle of the day, it’s a busy strip at the best of times, so for this to happen at this time is nothing but brazen,” he said.
Toorak woman Josie was sitting at traffic lights outside the store when the “frightening” incident unfolded.
“I saw a car pull up and four guys jumped out, they were wearing black hoodies and masks across their face,” she said.
“It seemed within 30 to 40 seconds they came running back out of the store, one was holding a gun extended out in his hand and they were carrying hammers, axes and bags — obviously with jewellery in them.”
Another witness described the robbers as very young.
“They had no fear, they ran out two at a time. The first two ran out with a cloth bag which looked full,” she said.
Police confirmed yesterday: “At this stage, it is believed approximately four males of African appearance entered the store, at least one of them with a firearm.”
“A male staff member was struck to the head with the butt of a firearm and is being treated for non-life threatening injuries,” the spokesman said.
Steve Wolf said his wife and young daughter were travelling on Toorak Rd when a carload of men blasted past them on the wrong side of the road at the time of the robbery.
Mr Wolf said the vehicle narrowly missed hitting them.
“I’m just tired of this bulls---. They could have killed my six-year-old,” Mr Wolf said. “She should not have to see these b------s.”
Store owner Tony Fialides was stunned by the fresh heist.
“I’m incredibly disappointed,” he said. “I’ve had people from interstate and overseas saying: ‘What’s going on in Victoria?’”.
Mr Fialides said he was on a family holiday he has spent two years organising when he got the latest news. “It feels shocking,” he said.
It is just three months since the shop was hit by a gun-toting gang, where manager Steven Morrow had a gun pointed at his head by one of the thieves during the terrifying holdup in which glass counters were smashed.
Dramatic CCTV footage showed Mr Morrow shoving the masked gang out the door.
Jewellery worth about $200,000 was stolen in the robbery.
It’s Melbourne’s third jewel heist over the past fortnight, with two teenagers arrested and charged in relation to a terrifying armed robbery in Canterbury last Thursday.
Earlier this month, three raiders used a machete and gun to terrorise bystanders in Elsternwick before making off with $150,000 of jewellery.
Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.