Brimbank Embona detectives are seeking public assistance following a number of armed robberies over the past two months on convenience stores in the northern and western suburbs.
Between 29 April and 2 May, six businesses have been robbed by armed offenders, stealing cash, cigarettes and other consumable items.
Just before 3am on 29 April, at a convenience store on the Western Highway, at Rockbank a male offender armed with a golf club approached the attendant who was sweeping in the doorway of the store.
The offender, described as wearing a balaclava and hoodie, then made demands on the attendant for cash with both going back inside behind the service counter.
The attendant then handed the offender a quantity of cash from the register, pressing the duress alarm at the same time and.
The offender then stole a number of consumable items from behind the counter and ran from the store.
The offender was observed by the victim to run across the Western Freeway and get into the driver’s seat of an old white vehicle (possibly a Nissan Pulsar)
He was joined by another man waiting behind a nearby tree who got into the passenger side of the car.
The vehicle then drove east on Western Highway toward the city.
Police believe the same man was responsible for an attempted armed robbery approximately 40 minutes earlier at a convenience store in Keilor Road Niddrie
Just after midnight on 30 April, a man armed with a baseball bat entered a service station on Melrose Drive in Tullamarine and demanded cash from the attendant.
As the attendant moved towards a secure area near the cash register, the man swung a baseball bat at him several times.
The man ran from the store empty-handed after the attendant refused to hand over any money.
Approximately 30 minutes later, the same offender entered the convenience store on the corner of Melville Road and Hunter Street, Brunswick West and demanded cash and cigarettes.
The man, again armed with a baseball bat, threatened the attendant and handed him a black bag.
The attendant placed some cigarettes and an amount of money in the bag, before handing it back to the offender, who fled the store.
The man is described as of medium build, wearing a black balaclava, green hooded jumper, black track pants with white stripes down the sides and white gloves.
Around 1.20am on 1 May three men entered the convenience store on the corner of West Road and Boundary Road in Pascoe Vale.
One man remained at the front door as a lookout while the other two entered and produced weapons before making demands.
One was armed with a large knife and the other produced what is thought to be either an air rifle or a .22 calibre longarm.
A number of consumable items were stolen and it is believed that the men fled in a vehicle which is yet to be identified.
Three men entered a convenience store in Parkville around 2.30am on 2 May armed with unknown weapons whilst the staff member was in a cool room.
At least on of the men jumped the counter and stole cash and cigarettes and no contact was made with the attendant.
Two of the offenders are described as wearing black pants and bright yellow tops, with black balaclavas and white gloves and also had their faces covered with red masks.
The third male was wearing grey track pants with a stripe down the legs, a black hoodie, black face mask and white gloves.
They fled in an unknown vehicle.