Brighton grocery store ambushed by weapon wielding trio, CCTV footage of Cheltenham IGA attack
A Brighton grocer and Cheltenham IGA were ambushed on Saturday afternoon by knife-wielding bandits, but police say they’re closing in on the teen thugs.
Police & Courts
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Police are closing in on a trio of armed teenagers who stormed supermarkets across Melbourne’s southeast on Saturday.
Inspector Scott Dwyer said they had made “significant progress”, and arrests were “imminent”.
“We know these people,” he said.
“We know their methodology.
“Multiple arrests will be made quickly.”
It comes after the three males – believed to be 14 to 17 years old – ambushed a supermarket on Bernard St in Cheltenham about 3.50pm on June 15, with CCTV showing the attackers striking a young man and brandishing large knives at staff.
The owner of the IGA store, who did not want to be identified, said three males jumped the counter.
“They arrived for the cigarettes, which are all locked at every hour of the day,” the owner said.
“They were roughing up one of them to get the cigarettes open.”
When the worker refused he “copped a few punches to face”.
“The other female staff (member), she opened up the cash drawer and said ‘take the cash’ so two of them went after the cash.”
The thieves then fled in a white Mercedes, which Inspector Dwyer confirmed had been stolen during an aggravated burglary at a Doncaster East home on June 7.
“The offenders have entered the house through an unlocked door, took the keys and stole the car,” he said.
The residents were asleep at the time of the burglary.
Shortly after fleeing Cheltenham on Saturday night, the trio ambushed a Brighton grocer on Cochrane St.
Brandishing knives, the trio demanded cash and cigarettes before assaulting three employees.
One of the workers, 18, and who did not wish to be identified, said: “They jumped over the counter and started pointing a knife at me. Telling me to open the register”.
All three employees were treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The trio fled the scene in the Mercedes, believed to be driven by a fourth offender.
The Mercedes was then seen on Asling St about 4.30pm, where two males got out and entered a brown four-wheel drive before both vehicles fled the scene.
It is believed they then ambushed a store on Andrew St, Mt Waverley, where the trio produced a knife before again fleeing the scene with cigarettes.
The trio then made their way to another supermarket in Burwood, making off with cash and cigarettes after threatening staff members with a knife.
The offenders are yet to be located and the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone who witnessed the incidents, with dashcam/CCTV footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
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