24 October 2014 – Update – CCTV Released – Armed Robbery – Supermarket – Deer Park
Published October 31, 2014 | 
Brimbank Embona detectives are on the trail of two armed robbers who held up a Deer Park supermarket last month.
The two males with their faces covered entered the Mt Derrimut Road store around 11.30pm on 17 September.
Brandishing a hatchet and a machete, the duo threatened staff and stole money from two tills.
No one was injured during the incident.
The pair were last seen leaving in a black sedan which was waiting outside with a third offender.
The first male has been described as being of Caucasian appearance with skinny legs. He was wearing dark-coloured clothing and gloves and a red piece of cloth over his face at the time of the incident.
The second male had brown eyes and wore grey pants, a red hoodie, gloves and a blue cloth over his face.
Detectives have released CCTV footage and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact police.
15 October 2014 – Armed Robbery – Fast Food Restaurant – Springvale
Published October 17, 2014 | Police have released CCTV footage following an armed robbery at a fast food restaurant in Springvale last week.
Two men with stockings covering their faces entered the fast food outlet on the corner of Springvale and Heatherton roads just after midnight on Friday 10 October.
Both of the offenders were armed with what are believed to be tomahawks, and walked behind the counter.
One of offenders made a demand for cash while the other kept a look out.
He then grabbed some cash out of the open register and they both fled the scene.
They were last seen running across Heatherton Road towards Burden Park.
No one was injured during the incident.
One of the men is described as being approximately 183cm tall and solid build.
He was wearing a grey hooded top, navy blue tracksuit pants with two stripes down the side and Converse style runners.
The second offender is described as being approximately 175cm tall.
He was wearing black tracksuit pants with writing down the side, a light-coloured t-shirt with a grey hooded top underneath, black shoes and black gloves.
8 October 2014 – Armed Robbery – Bank – Gladstone Park
Published October 10, 2014 | Hume Crime Investigation Unit detectives are interviewing a man following an attempted armed robbery at a Gladstone Park bank this afternoon.
Investigators have been told the man entered the bank on Gladstone Park Drive just before 1.30 pm today.
Once inside he made demands and the bank staff initiated their robbery procedures.
The man left empty handed.
He then fled to a house in nearby Dudley Street where he demanded keys to a vehicle from the female resident, who remained inside behind a locked door and notified police.
The man has left and then approached a male neighbour as he pulled into his driveway.
He pulled the driver from the vehicle and then stole the silver Toyota.
While searching the area, police saw the vehicle travelling towards the city and began following it.
Police arrested the man after intercepting the vehicle at the intersection of William and Latrobe streets about 2pm.
No one was injured during the incidents.
8 October 2014 – Armed Robberies – Factory/Takeaway Food Store – Sunshine West & Derrimut
Published October 10, 2014 | Victoria Police is investigating two armed robberies which occurred this morning in Sunshine West and Derrimut.
Police have been told a man armed with a firearm forced entry to a factory in North View Drive, Sunshine West around 5am this morning.
The man confronted an employee at the factory and discharged the firearm towards her, causing minor injuries to her arm.
Police have attended at the premises and were confronted by the armed man who was holding the woman.
The man kept the woman with him whilst making his way towards a motorbike which was parked at the front of the property.
He has then let the woman go and left on the motorbike towards Somerville Road at a fast rate of speed.
The police immediately provided assistance to the woman and did not follow the armed man.
The woman has been conveyed to hospital for treatment.
The man did not steal anything from this property.
A short time later, around 5.25am, police received a call to a second armed robbery at a take-away food store on the corner of Mt Derrimut Road and Paramount Boulevard in Derrimut.
Police have been told the same man entered the store and threatened the female employee with the firearm before stealing a quantity of cash from the register.
The man is then believed to have left the area on the same motorbike.
The female employee was conveyed to hospital for observation and treatment for shock.
The armed offender is described as male, approximately 6 foot tall, solid build, wearing dark clothing and a full face helmet.
18 September 2014 – Update – Arrest – Armed Robbery – Hotel – Taylors Hill
Published September 19, 2014 | Armed Crime Squad detectives have arrested a Taylors Hill man following an armed robbery at a hotel on Gourlay Road on 3 September.
It’s alleged a man armed with a knife threatened staff and demanded cash before leaving empty handed.
The 42-year-old man was arrested this morning and appeared in court today.
5 September 2014 – Armed Robbery – Service Station- Nar Nar Goon
Published September 5, 2014 | Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating an armed robbery at a service station in Nar Nar Goon last week.
Investigators believe that a man armed with a handgun entered the Princes Highway store around 10pm on Thursday 28 August.
The offender stole a small amount of cash before leaving in a white utility with a silver tray, driven by a second offender.
Investigators have released images and CCTV of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries and vehicle seen in the vicinity.
The vehicle is described as a white 1999 – 2003 TF model Holden Rodeo utility with a silver tray, distinctive after market rims and silver nudge bar.
The man is perceived to be Caucasian in appearance and aged in his 30s, wearing a green jacket, grey tracksuit pants and a grey DC brand beanie.
Anyone who has any information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Leading Senior Constable Paul Turner
Media Officer
36770/2014
4 September 2014 – CCTV Released – Armed Robbery – Hotel – Hillside
Published September 5, 2014 | Armed Crime Squad detectives have released footage after a man robbed a hotel in Hillside last night.
Police have been told a man armed with a knife entered the venue on Gourlay Road, near the Melton Highway, just before 5pm.
It is believed the man threatened staff and demanded cash before fleeing the scene empty handed.
He was last seen in a white or silver dual cab utility with a canopy.
The offender is described as approximately 30-years-old, 165cm tall with a thin build and olive complexion.
He was wearing dark-coloured clothing, baseball cap and sunglasses at the time of the incident.
Investigators have released CCTV footage and an image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.
They have also released CCTV footage of a silver utility seen at the hotel around the time of the incident.
27 August 2014 – VIC Police Crime Statistics 2013/2014
Published August 29, 2014 | Victoria Police has today published its 2013/2014 annual crime statistics.
The statistics compare the 12 months to June 2014 with the 12 months to June 2013.
The overall recorded crime rate across the state has increased by 3.7 per cent, measured as a rate per 100,000 of the population which is standard across Australia. The total number of offences recorded is up by 5.7 per cent (up 23,217 offences to a total of 433,718 offences).
Crime against the person has risen by 0.2 per cent per 100,000 population (or up 1205 offences to a total of 59,907 offences).
This includes increases in:
• sex (non rape) (up 7.5 per cent)
• rape (up 1.8 per cent)
Decreases have been seen in:
• abduction/kidnapping (down 10.5 per cent)
• robberies (down 10.2 per cent)
• homicide (down 6.9 per cent)
• assault (down 0.2 per cent)
Crime against property has increased by 0.7 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 6897 offences to a total of 273,413 offences). This includes increases in:
• handle stolen goods (up 18.7 per cent)
• deception (up 16 per cent)
• theft from motor vehicle (up 10.8 per cent)
• theft of motor vehicle (up 9.2 per cent)
• theft of bicycles (up by 5.4 per cent)
Decreases have been seen in:
• arson (down 16.6 per cent)
• theft (other) (down 11.5 per cent)
• property damage (down 5.4 per cent)
• aggravated burglaries (down 4.7 per cent)
• residential burglaries (down 3.1 per cent)
Drug offences have increased by 6.5 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 1849 offences to a total of 23,444 offences).
Other crime such as weapons/explosives offences, justice procedures (eg intervention order breaches, bail offences) and harassment have increased by 18.6 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 13,266 offences to a total of 76,954).
Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said the main drivers behind this year’s increase were family violence, drug offences and crimes that fall into the ‘other’ category such as weapons/explosives offences and justice procedures.
He said a quarter of Victoria’s crime over the past financial year could be contributed to family violence incidents and detected crimes such as drug use and possession.
Family violence incidents equated for more than 40 per cent of crime against the person offences – up by 5.7 per cent – significantly driving up the number of reported offences in the categories of assault, rape and sex (non rape).
While there was an increase in family violence-related assaults (up 6.2 per cent), Mr Lay said the data showed there has been a decrease in non family violence-related assaults (down 1.8 per cent).
Mr Lay said there had also been a rise in motor vehicle thefts of 9.2 per cent.
“While many cars are still being stolen by joyriders, we’re seeing an increase in the number of cars that we aren’t finding. We suspect these vehicles are being taken by criminal groups to make money by selling them to scrap metal yards. We’re working closely with stakeholders to advocate key reforms to address this emerging issue.”
Following three consecutive years of increased crime rates, Mr Lay said it was time for police to re-evaluate how crime should be policed in Victoria.
“While the traditional model of policing is serving us well in pushing down crime in areas such as robberies, burglaries and theft, we need to look at a new way to address emerging crime trends,” he said.
“It’s important Victoria Police becomes a flexible organisation, ready to dedicate specialist resources to emerging issues such as organised crime, our community’s battle with ICE, cyber crime, historical sex abuse and deceptions.
“For example, following the parliamentary inquiry into historical sexual abuse a large number of victims came forward which resulted in the formulation of Sano Taskforce. This has lead to an increase in sexual offence reporting, including a large number of historical sexual abuse, which is reflected in this year’s data.
“We’re really seeing a flow on affect as victims of this horrendous crime feel more comfortable to report these matters to police, confident they will be investigated no matter how much time has passed,” he said.
“The crime landscape is changing and Victoria Police needs to evolve with it to ensure we keep up with things such as rapidly changing technology which has resulted in new ways of committing crime as well as new types of crime.
“These issues will continue to be a challenge for us into the future.”
The annual statistics can be viewed at www.police.vic.gov.au
Alongside the annual statistics, Victoria Police published its statistics by Police Service Area (PSA). Updated quarterly, local area commanders in charge of each PSA have provided written commentary accompanying the statistics. To view them visit My Place at www.vicpolicenews.com.au/myplace
25 August 2014 – Arrests – Armed Robberies – Service Stations – Craigieburn/St Albans
Published August 29, 2014 | Detectives from Brimbank Embona Taskforce have charged three teenagers following an alleged aggravated burglary and armed robbery overnight.
The first incident took place at a service station in Craigieburn just after midnight when two of the youths allegedly gained entry into the shop area by kicking in the glass entry door.
Once inside the store the youths allegedly stole a till from the counter containing an amount of cash.
A short time later the same offenders are alleged to have stolen cash and cigarettes from a service station on Kings Road, St Albans.
Three youths were later arrested in the Sunshine area with the assistance of the air-wing.
One boy, 16, from Croydon has been charged with eight armed robberies, one count of aggravated burglary and numerous counts of theft of motor vehicle.
A 16-year-old boy from Sunshine West has been charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of aggravated burglary and two counts of theft from motor vehicle.
A third boy, also 16, from Parkville, has been charged with eight counts of armed robbery, one count of aggravated burglary and two counts of theft from motor vehicle.
All three youths have been remanded into custody to appear at a Children’s court at later dates.
20 August 2014 – Arrests – Armed Robbery – Hotel – Essendon
Published August 22, 2014 | Armed Crime Squad detectives have arrested four men following an armed robbery at an Essendon hotel this morning.
Police were called to the Keilor Road venue following reports two males entered the hotel armed with firearm and a knife about 1.15am.
The men made threats towards staff before making off with an amount of money.
Two of the men, aged 21 from Broadmeadows have been released pending further enquiries.
A 20-year-old from Broadmeadows and a 23-year-old from Roxburgh Park remain in custody, assisting police with their enquiries, following their arrest at a motel in Sydney Road Coburg this morning.
Armed Crime Squad detectives are investigating whether the incident is linked with a series of gaming venue armed robberies in the northern and western suburbs.
No one was injured during the incident and investigations into the series of armed robberies continue.
