Golden Fleece Hotel armed holdup on October 12 may have been an inside job

Four people have been arrested as police investigate whether the theft of a “substantial” amount of cash from the Golden Fleece Hotel was an inside job.

It’s alleged a man armed with a taser got into a strong room at the Golden Fleece Hotel in Melton and stole a substantial amount of cash. Picture: Thinkstock

Police are investigating whether an armed robbery at a Melton pub was an inside job.

Four people – who police say are known to each other – have been arrested over the holdup at the Golden Fleece Hotel on High St last month.

Police were told at the time that a man with a taser menaced a staff member with a taser and stole a “substantial” amount of cash from a strong room.

One of those arrested, a 38-year-old woman from Melton West, was detained on Tuesday morning by detectives from the armed crime squad.

Police said she was interviewed and released “pending further inquiries.”

That swoop followed the arrest of a 47-year-old Melton West man on November 3.

He was grabbed as he fled a Melton South home

“Just prior to the arrest the man dropped a bag containing approximately $25,000 cash which was then seized by investigators,” a Victoria Police statement said.

That operation also involved the air wing and dog squad.

The arrested man was later charged with armed robbery with an offensive weapon, aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, theft, possession of methylamphetamine and dealing with the proceeds of crime.

He was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 7.

Four search warrants had been carried out in the Melton area two days earlier.

A Melton man, 56, was charged with armed robbery with an offensive weapon, aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, theft, possession of cocaine and driving while disqualified.

A 48-year-old Melton woman was charged with aggravated burglary with an offensive weapon, theft, making a false report, possession of cannabis, possession of methylamphetamine and two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime.

The man was remanded and the woman bailed.

They will appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court February 7.

Police said the charges stemmed from a holdup on a licensed venue on High St just before 6am on October 12.

They will allege a man armed with a taser got into a strong room inside the venue, stealing a substantial amount of cash.

“A female staff member was allegedly threatened during the incident, but she was not physically injured,” the police statement said.

“Police believe the parties involved were known to each other. The investigation remains ongoing.”

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.