Armed Crime Squad detectives have announced a $100,000 reward as they draw links between a number of incidents including an armed robbery where a hostage was taken in Sunshine West and an armed robbery at a fast food outlet in Sunbury last year.

In the first incident a man armed with a firearm forced entry to a factory in North View Drive, Sunshine West around 5am on Wednesday 8 October.

The man confronted a female employee at the factory and discharged the firearm towards her, causing injuries to her arm.

When police attended the man kept the woman with him whilst making his way towards a motorbike, threatening police before he let the woman go and left the scene.

The man was unsuccessful in his attempt to get into a safe at the warehouse and it’s believed he left empty handed.

It’s also believed the armed man then held up a café on Elgar Road Derrimut, threatening staff with the same long arm firearm and stealing a quantity of cash about 5.25am.

Police have released CCTV footage of this incident in the hope it will assist their investigation.

A FACE image was also released earlier this month of a man detectives would like to speak to in relation to this incident.

Detectives are also appealing for further information and they believe they can now link the man involved with the above incident to a significant armed robbery at a fast food outlet in Sunbury and an attempt just prior at another similar fast food outlet just off the Calder Freeway.

Investigators believe the armed robbery, which occurred in a car park outside a McDonalds on Horne Street on Monday 1 December, involved three offenders.

Police have been told that a quantity of cash was taken during the armed robbery in which it’s believed two of the three offenders were armed with firearms.

The trio help up a cash delivery car and it’s driver just after 6am.

It’s believed that two of the alleged offenders arrived at the scene on a dark coloured motorcycle and one later left on the bike.

The other alleged offender arrived in a late model sports Holden Commodore sedan and two left in the car.

The sedan was later located later that morning dumped and burnt out at Little River near Werribee.

A white late model vehicle was also seen leaving the scene of this car fire in Little River.

A subsequent search of the Werribee River a month later, where it was believed the firearms used in the armed robbery may have been dumped, failed to uncover anything.

It’s believed on the morning of the above armed robbery, just before it was carried out, the same trio were at another McDonalds just off the Calder Freeway and attempted unsuccessfully to hold it up.

Investigators have also released CCTV footage of this attempt near the Calder Freeway.

Armed Crime Squad Detective Inspector Stephen Clark said it is hoped the release of the reward and the CCTV footage will help progress the investigation.

“We are appealing for anyone with information or anyone who witnessed the offenders and/or car you see on the CCTV to come forward,’ D/Insp Clark said.

“Our investigation has led us to this point and we are just waiting for that crucial call.

“Hopefully the offer of the reward will help us make that breakthrough.”

The reward for information is payable at the discretion of the CCP for information leading to the identification, prosecution and conviction of those responsible.

The Director of Public prosecutions may also consider the granting of an indemnity to any person who provides information in relation to the identity of the principal offender or offenders.