Police offer $350,000 reward for information about Olinda robbery

TWO publicans bashed in a brutal burglary have revealed they remain traumatised two years after the crime.

Victorian Police badge. Logo. Victoria.

TWO publicans bashed in a brutal burglary have revealed they remain traumatised two years after the crime as a $350,000 reward was announced to catch those responsible.

Couple Mark and Jenny, who did not want their surnames published, sustained serious head injuries when two balaclava-clad men forced their way into Olinda’s Mt Dandenong Hotel.

The hoteliers, locking up when the offenders pushed their way through a rear door, were assaulted with an unknown weapon.

Mark suffered a fractured eye socket and serious lacerations to the head while Jenny suffered a fractured skull, broken nose and lacerations.

Both were knocked unconscious and left bloodied, Mark grappling with one of the bandits and struck numerous times.

“As we clicked the door latch the force came upon us and two solid build blokes came belting in,’’ Mark said.

“Jenny was struck and was flown backwards — I was hit at the same time.

“It was fairly horrific.

“I feared for my life.

“We could have quite easily have been killed.”

The attack still haunts the pair.

“I have flashbacks still — I am wary of people,’’ Jenny said.

“Anywhere we go we will observe people around us.

“They could do it to somebody else if they are still out there and you wouldn’t want that on anybody else.

“It was only later I thought we really should have been died from the injuries we had.

“We were just very, very lucky.

“If somebody knows something, come forward.”

Cash, a wallet and jewellery were stolen during the Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd attack on March 22, 2014 just before 2am.

The offenders, who also wore gloves and did not exchange any words with the victims, fled through the rear door.

A lack of CCTV footage has hindered the investigation however the offenders are described as being of solid build and wore dark clothing.

“This is a particularly violent and brutal crime and unnecessarily violent,’’ Armed Crime Squad Detective Inspector Stephen Clark said.

“We always say we’re only one phone call away from solving most of our crimes and there’s somebody out there who knows something about this.

“We hope a reward will be the inducement that somebody out there will need to come forward.”

The reward of up to $350,000 will be paid at the discretion of the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of those responsible for the crime.

Information to Crime Stoppers via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.

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Originally published as Police offer $350,000 reward for information about Olinda robbery