‘Nothing has changed’: Staff at service stations going to work in terror of attacks and hold-ups by armed youths

Staff at service stations live in fear of vicious armed robberies. They’ve asked for help and support, but they say nothing has changed.

Frustrated business figures say the state government’s inaction on the illicit tobacco trade has fuelled violent armed robberies known as “swarmings” at service stations.

Youths are accused of targeting nearly a dozen petrol stations, tobacconists and supermarkets in terrifying armed robberies across the city’s east and west on Tuesday.

The separate gangs held up stores while armed with machetes, knives and a crowbar as they stole smokes, cash and alcohol.

Innocent workers were allegedly threatened and a brave member of the public was injured as he tried to stop the armed group at an IGA in Chelsea Heights.

The youths often target trays of cigarettes and are believed to be paid about $5 for each pack of smokes they steal for those entrenched in the underground tobacco trade.

That allows dodgy tobacconists to stock packs of smokes for only a small fee, while willing teenagers make a few hundred dollars from a night’s work.

“They do it to get the grog and smokes and anything they can resell,” one youth crime source said.

“The more they get, the better.”
But local traders who are targeted by the armed youths are fed up.

Local traders who are targeted by the armed youths are fed up. Picture: 7news

Jeff Harper, who owns IGA stores at Ashburton and Southbank, said his young workers were facing the threat of having huge machetes held at them while working their first jobs.

He said police have called to warn his workers of similar attacks occurring nearby.

“My staff are constantly on edge,” he told the Sunday Herald Sun.

“In the past fortnight alone, we’ve had to shut our store early twice after being warned by police about potential swarmings nearby — just to keep our team and customers safe.

“Like many supermarkets, we employ young people in their first jobs. It’s unacceptable that I can’t look their parents in the eye and assure them their children will come home safely.”

Mr Harper said the flourishing illicit tobacco industry was allowing the armed robberies — known as “swarmings” — to continue across the suburbs.

“The government has dropped the ball. These violent robberies are a direct result of its failure to act on the illicit tobacco trade — an issue we’ve been raising for years,” he added.

“We’ve requested meetings since Queensland introduced laws to hold landlords accountable for illegal tobacco shops, and we can’t even get a phone call returned.”

Master Grocers Association chief executive Martin Stirling said calls for action have fallen on deaf ears.

“We’ve raised the alarm repeatedly, and nothing has changed,” he said.

“Our retailers are not just being robbed, they’re being terrorised, powerlessly expecting to be attacked at any time. Why is this being tolerated?”

The MGA welcomed the looming machete ban but said it was “far too little, far too late”. Picture: Supplied

The MGA welcomed the looming machete ban but said it was “far too little, far too late.”

Mr Stirling said police responded quickly but it was time to recognise the current approach was failing.

“Police are doing what they can — but they’re being left to mop up a crisis that needs political will and policy reform to address,” he added.

“It shouldn’t take public outrage after multiple attacks to prompt action. Organised attacks by thugs against innocent family businesses should send shockwaves through government.

“This must never be allowed to become the norm and our communities deserve better. Retailers are exhausted. Their families are terrified. It’s time for government to act — not tomorrow, not next year — but now.”

A Victorian government spokesperson said the licensing scheme it is introducing would help to “smoke out organised crime and protect legitimate retailers”.

“This will back the work of Victoria Police who are already targeting serious organised crime through Taskforce Lunar.

“Our tough new bail laws are already working to remand more alleged offenders — putting community safety first in all bail decisions.”