Machete holdup at Melbourne service station

Two men have threatened a service station worker with a machete and a large rock in Melbourne’s southeast.

A rampage on St Kilda beach on December 13. Picture: Channel 7

Two men of African appearance threatened a service station worker with a machete and a large rock in Melbourne’s southeast this morning, before escaping with the till.

The incident occurred just after 4am at a petrol station on Heatherton Road in Narre Warren.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the offenders were “perceived to be of African appearance”, and described the men as tall, with their faces partially covered by T-shirts.

The male worker, who was uninjured, told a work colleague he was scared and begged the offenders not to hurt him.

“The two guys came in. He said they were threatening me to ‘give us money, give us money, give us money’,” the colleague told Nine News.

“He was scared and he opened the till for him and said ‘take whatever you want, take everything but don’t hurt me’.

“It’s quite scary because in the night time this is a really quiet area so it’s scary … bad things happen here lots of the time. We had a robbery last year as well.”

The duo, who escaped with about $300 in cash, fled on foot. Police investigations are continuing.

Dozens of street thugs still on most wanted list

Meanwhile, Victorian police are still looking for dozens of alleged street gang members who trashed homes, brawled at St Kilda Beach and committed violent home­ ­invasions and service station thefts in the past month.

Since the summer crime spree began, police have charged two people in relation to the offences; both teenage boys arrested over last month’s out-of-control house party at an Airbnb property in Werribee.

Riot police were called after scores of thugs ran amok, throwing rocks and sticks at police and local residents.

The house was trashed and graffiti tags “Apex” and “MTS” were scrawled on furniture.

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with aggravated burglary, criminal damage and armed robbery. Police said the teen was ­expected to be further charged in relation to the riot.

A 16-year-old boy was charged with criminal damage and assault.

Police have interviewed three other boys, aged in their teens, and they have been released pending further inquiry.

Police have yet to make any ­arrests over last month’s rampage at St Kilda beach when dozens of youths, some described as being of African appearance, ­attacked and robbed beachgoers, trashed the local McDonald’s in the early hours of the morning and turned on police.

Mobile phone footage taken at the scene showed youths fighting and in one video a girl can be seen punching and elbowing another girl in the head.

A police spokeswoman said the investigation was continuing.

Politicians and police have promised a zero tolerance ­approach to violent offending in Victoria. Premier Daniel Andrew said being young and unemployed were not excuses for criminal ­activity.

“It is arrests we need in the first instance, not excuses,’’ he said.

On Wednesday, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said public misbehaviour in large groups was the key issue that police needed to tackle.

“We will continue to take a zero tolerance approach to any offending, we’ll continue to make ­arrests,” he said.

The investigation into last week’s violent robberies and home invasions across western Melbourne is still ongoing and no ­arrests have been made.

Last Thursday, four men smashed their way into a Hillside property and struck the 59-year-old woman house-sitting across the face before forcing her to sit in a front room while more men entered and ransacked the property.

One of the offenders, who were all described as being of African appearance, threatened the woman into handing over the password to her iPad and phone and after the ordeal was over, the men told her to wait five minutes before calling anyone, or they would kill her.

Earlier that night, a 17-year-old boy walking in Taylors Hills was assaulted with a baseball bat, and a 16-year-old boy in Cairnlea was punched and kicked before the ­offenders stole his mobile phone and demanded the password.

In the early hours of Friday, three men attempted to break into a house in Delahey but fled after the occupants armed themselves.

Two service stations in Thomas­town in Melbourne’s northern suburbs were also targeted this week by groups of men of African appearance who were armed with hammers.

Some teen thugs have taken to social media, posting news video clips reporting on crimes and ­photos of destruction.

Tessa Akerman