Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre armed robbery: Gunmen on run after violent attack
TWO men who tried to steal cash from a Waverly Gardens gaming venue in Melbourne’s south east remain at large this morning. A brave patron who tackled one of the armed robbers was “smashed in the head” during the ordeal.
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A MAN who bravely tackled an armed robber trying steal cash from a suburban Melbourne sports bar was “smashed in the head” with a rifle, his friend says.
Two gunmen stormed the Vegas at Waverley Gardens gaming venue and bar on Friday night demanding money.
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A man in his 50s was taken to Dandenong Hospital with upper body injuries, an Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said.
The two gunmen ran out of the bar and fired a shot in a nearby undercover car park, Victoria Police have confirmed.
Dozens of police arrived at the scene but the men were able to flee with an “undetermined” amount of cash.
“One person was assaulted during the incident and taken to hospital with minor injuries,” spokeswoman Natalie Butler said.
A witness, who asked not to be identified, said his friends thought a fight was about to break out but they realised the men were trying to rob the bar.
“A guy I was having a drink with tackled this guy at the end of the stairwell and then I saw another one at the cash register who pointed a gun,” the witness said.
The other gunman pointed the gun at the witness who was forced to take a step back.
“He ran past and smashed my friend in the head with the rifle butt.”
A man said his father was caught up in the terrifying robbery and had a gun pointed at his head.
“I’m sure he wasn’t expecting to have a gun pointed at him when he left the house,” Andrew McCallum said on Facebook.
“His friend was not so lucky, he copped a rifle butt to the head.
“All this at a suburban shopping centre on a Friday evening. We deserve better than this.”
It’s the second armed holdup at the Waverley Gardens complex in as many weeks.
An Armaguard pair were left shaken after a lone offender armed with a gun ambushed them moments after a cash pick-up about 8am on Valentine’s Day.
