David Jones employee stabbed after confronting shoplifters in Melbourne CBD

A David Jones staff member has been seriously injured in Melbourne’s CBD after being stabbed by a shoplifter who was trying to flee with a designer bag.

Police are probing a stabbing at David Jones on Little Bourke St. Picture: Getty Images

A David Jones department store worker has been left with serious injuries after a CBD attack.

It is understood a male and female posed as customers when the man snatched a designer bag from Yves Saint Laurent, located in the northern end of the store.

The two attempted to flee the store when the incident occurred, sources said.

A Victoria Police statement said: “The male thief stabbed the staff member in the arm before fleeing with his accomplice. The staff member was taken to hospital with serious injuries”.

The victim remains in hospital and is reportedly “shaken” by the ordeal.

Sources told the Herald Sun that members of the public, one of them a doctor, applied first aid to the victim as they waited for paramedics.

Meanwhile, a retail worker from a nearby store described the scene as “confronting.”

She said the young man was laying down on the sidewalk of Little Bourke St, outside the store’s entry, as he was tended to by paramedics.

It appeared the victim had suffered a wound to either his torso or arm, she said.

“He had blood on his shirt. He was white as a ghost,” she told the Herald Sun.

Emergency crews quickly swarmed the busy CBD street as police searched The Emporium for the suspects.

The entrance to David Jones on Little Bourke St after the incident. Picture: Kaitlyn Smith

Melbourne CIU is investigating the incident and no arrests have been made at this stage.

The section of the store where the incident took place was expected to remain closed to the public for the evening.

Dozens of security guards were stationed around the handbag department, located just off Little Bourke St, as they ushered customers away from the area.

The rest of the store – filled by customers venturing to Melbourne CBD – maintained business as usual. Investigators remain at the scene as of Tuesday afternoon.

In a statement, David Jones said the safety of their team members, concession partner team members and customers was paramount.

“Our thoughts are with the team member and we are assisting police with their investigation into this incident,” the statement said.

“Across the country retailers are seeing increasing incidents of theft and violence towards workers. This is completely unacceptable, and we continue to partner with the police and have taken appropriate measures with security across our store network.”

Colleagues who witnessed the incident have since been offered counselling.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit crimestoppersvic.com.au