Armed teens target Malvern jewellery store in daylight robbery

THIS is the moment four hooded masked thugs smashed into a Malvern East jewellery store and used crowbars to break into cases of gold and diamonds. WATCH THE VIDEO

UPDATE: THIS is the moment four hooded masked thugs smashed into a Melbourne jewellery store and used crowbars to break into cases of gold and diamonds today.

The men were captured on security camera breaking in and pacing around Jafari Jewellery in Malvern East, 12km southeast of Melbourne CBD.

They then smashed into multiple glass cases, scooping trays of jewellery out with gloved hands and emptying the valuables into a black Nike sports bag.

One man could also be seen kicking or stomping on something off-screen.

Four masked men smashed into Jafari Jewellery in a brazen daylight robbery.

One of the thieves smashes a glass case with his hammer.

The entire robbery lasted less than two minutes before all four thugs left the store, with the last man jumping through the hole left in the shattered glass door before they all fled into a waiting getaway car.

The incident occurred just before midday, with shattered glass left in the doorway and throughout the store from broken cabinets.

It comes just days after axe-wielding thieves smashed up a jewellery store at Waverley Gardens Shopping Centre in Melbourne’s southeast.

Broken glass where the robbers smashed their way into Jafari Jewellery. Picture: Josie Hayden

Detective Sergeant Peter Lockman said it was “extremely lucky” no one was injured in the attack.

“These men come armed with a purpose so it’s extremely lucky no one has been hurt.”

He said the masked and gloved offenders were in the store for more than a minute, and may have cased the store as a potential target in the hours or days before the smash-and-grab.

“It was very brazen (being) this time of day where there is a street full of pedestrian traffic,” he said.

Jewellery store owner Mohammed Jafari looks on at the damage. Picture: Josie Hayden

He said two males were wearing all black, another was in a grey hoodie with tan pants and the fourth man was wearing a white top with black pants.

One used a hammer, while the others were armed with crowbars, he said.

Det Sgt Lockman said the increasing trend of jewellery store robberies was worrying.

“It’s very similar offending to other incidents we are investigating. We hold concerns because they are very brazen attacks.”

Store owner Mohammed Jafari was teary-eyed as he recalled the ordeal.

Detective Sergeant Peter Lockman addresses the media. Picture: Josie Hayden

He was alone in the shop when the offenders struck, and was forced to flee out the shop exit as they filled their bags with his gold and diamond jewellery.

“We need some safety. We work very hard,” he said.

More crime: Pair terrorised in latest home invasion

Stalker filmed ‘pretty victims’ in bedrooms

“Everything is smashed. There were four people inside, big men, all of them,” he told 3AW.

He said there were many cameras inside the store and hoped video footage would provide police with an idea of who the group was. “They all had their faces covered,” he said.

Store owner Mohammed Jafari took pictures of the getaway car.

The shattered business owner cleans up the mess. Pictures: Josie Hayden

Mum Tamara was sitting metres from the store when she saw men run past her and smash their way in shortly before midday.

She grabbed her young daughter Madeline and hid behind a car, fearing the men may have been armed.

Harry Hrambamnis, owner of Central Park Cakes, said he saw four men run to a getaway car parked nearby on Davies St.

He said the car appeared to be a silver BMW, and was being driven by a man of Pacific Islander appearance.

Store owner Mohammed Jafari took a photo of the alleged getaway car — a silver BMW that sped off in the opposite direction.

Mr Hrambamnis said the driver came close to hitting a truck as he pulled out in front of traffic and sped right down Burke Road.

“I’m pretty jumpy. (It) makes your heart skip a beat,” he said.

One witness described the smash-and-grab offenders as being of African appearance. They are still on the run.

It is the latest jewellery heist in Melbourne.

In March, a gang raided a South Yarra jewellery store in broad daylight.

An Elsternwick store was attacked in April and a Canterbury jewellery store in March.

[e-mail]

@aneekasimonis