Airport West Westfield Shopping Centre police blitz results in the arrest of 19

Police have conducted a safety blitz at Westfield Shopping Centre in Airport West, resulting in dozens of arrests and the seizure of numerous weapons, drugs, and cash.

Teenagers allegedly armed with a machete accused of a violent armed robbery at a Melbourne shopping centre were arrested amid a surge in high-profile knife incidents across the suburbs.

Westfield Airport West was last month the subject of a police blitz in which 19 people were arrested while seven weapons were seized.

Officers seized a machete, box cutters, pocket knives and multitools while arresting a number of alleged offenders carrying drugs.

Two 14-year-old boys accused of an attempted armed robbery at a tobacconist at the Westfield were also taken into custody.

One of the boys allegedly approached the staff member while “brandishing a large machete” before bystanders stepped in to assist.

The pair ran off before police found them at a nearby bus stop where they were arrested and subsequently charged.

Westfield Airport West the subject of a police blitz last month. Picture: Supplied

Local police saturated the Westfield to proactively stamp out knife crime at shopping centres and strips after a spate of dangerous and violent offending.

A man allegedly seen wielding a knife before he was taken down in a brutal and dramatic citizen’s arrest at Moonee Ponds and was on Tuesday charged by police.

The Fitzroy man was filmed allegedly punching a store’s window before throwing dining chairs across the joint on Monday.

A brave bystander then ran at him with a chair before nailing him with a series of lusty blows as another man took away the knife.

A separate alleged stabbing attack unfolded just metres away at Moonee Ponds on Monday afternoon.

Chaos has erupted at shopping centres at Knox, Watergardens, Endeavour Hills, Northland in recent weeks.

Acting Commanders Raj Tillekeratne said police would continue to target shopping hubs.

“There are significant benefits to running these operations which sees an influx of dedicated police resources to our local area,” he said.

“While we always have police patrolling our local busy shopping centres, this operation is about sending a clear message to offenders and the local community that we simply won’t tolerate any weapons offences.”