13 January 2014 – Armed Robberies – Motels – Melbourne North West
Published January 17, 2014 | 
Police are investigating a recent series of armed robberies committed at motels across Melbourne’s north-west.
A total of three motels have been hit in Essendon, Attwood and Reservoir over the past fortnight.
Fawkner Embona Taskforce detectives are investigating and believe the same offenders may be behind all three armed robberies.
In each hold-up the offender has been armed with a knife and escaped with a small amount of cash.
– The first offence occurred at a motel on Mt Alexander Road in Essendon shortly before 7pm on Monday, 30 December.
– The second offence occurred at an Ardlie Street motel in Attwood about 5pm on Thursday, 2 January.
– The third offence occurred just after 5pm on the same day at a Mahoney’s Road motel in Reservoir. The offender was seen leaving in a silver Ford Falcon utility, bearing stolen number plates 1AT2JJ, with a second male driver.
He is described as being Pacific Islander or Maori in appearance, aged in his 20s with a medium build.
He was wearing a hooded top during the robberies.
Investigators have released face images of two men they would like to speak to in relation to the incidents.
Police have also released an image of a vehicle similar to the Ford Falcon utility the offender was seen leaving the scene of the Reservoir armed robbery in.
9 January 2014 – Update – Image Released – Armed Robbery – Supermarket – Geelong
Published January 10, 2014 | Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives have released an image of a man after a Highton supermarket was robbed at gunpoint last week.
A man entered the grocery store, located at the corner of Colac and South Valley roads about 4pm on Friday 3 January.
He has approached a staff member at a cash register, produced a firearm from a green eco bag and demanded cash.
The man has then taken an amount of money and fled.
He was last seen driving in a northerly direction along Colac Road in a red Holden Commodore.
The offender is believed to be aged in his late-20s or early-30s, with a fair complexion, pitted skin, long, brown, wavy hair and appeared to be missing most of his teeth.
He was wearing a blue beanie and dark blue jacket.
Investigators have released an image of a man that may assist with their enquiries.
9 January 2014 – Update – 2 Arrests – Armed Robberies – Newsagencies/Post Offices – Melbourne
Published January 10, 2014 | Armed Crime Taskforce detectives have arrested two men believed to have been involved in a series of armed robberies at newsagencies and post offices across Melbourne during the past eight months.
Two search warrants were executed at residential addresses in Lalor and Pascoe Vale around 10am this morning.
Some items of clothing were seized and a 20-year-old Lalor man and a 21-year-old Pascoe Vale man were arrested and are assisting detectives with their enquiries.
Detectives appealed for public assistance last week to help try and identify the offenders, believed to have been responsible for a series of armed robberies in Croydon, Rosanna, Preston, Strathmore and Mitcham between May and September 2013.
4 January 2014 – Armed Robbery – Supermarket – Geelong
Published January 10, 2014 | Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating after a Highton supermarket was robbed at gunpoint yesterday afternoon.
A man entered the grocery store, located at the corner of Colac and South Valley roads about 4pm.
He has approach a staff member at a cash register, produced a firearm from a green eco bag and demanded cash.
The man has then taken an amount of money and fled.
He was last seen driving in a northerly direction along Colac Road in a red Holden Commodore.
The offender is believed to be aged in his late-20s or early-30s, with a fair complexion, pitted skin, long, brown, wavy hair and appeared to be missing most of his teeth.
He was wearing a blue beanie and dark blue jacket.
4 January 2014 – Armed Robberies – Newsagencies/Post Offices – Melbourne
Published January 10, 2014 | Armed Crime Taskforce detectives are appealing for information from the public in relation to a string of armed robberies at newsagencies and post offices across Melbourne during the past eight months.
Detectives now believe the robberies, which occurred in Croydon, Rosanna, Preston, Strathmore and Mitcham between May and September 2013, are linked.
Acting Detective Sergeant David O’Riley from the Armed Crime Taskforce said looking at the incidents collectively indicated that they were part of a series.
“Looking at the incidents as a series rather than in isolation, we’ve been able to make the connection and have taken carriage of the investigations from the local crime investigation units and embona taskforces,” A/D/Sgt O’Riley said.
“There are certain similarities between the incidents that suggest they are being carried out by the same group of offenders and we’re appealing for public assistance to help identify and locate them.
“On each occasion, a group of two to three males in their early 20s with dark skin and covered faces have produced knives and demanded cash from the shop attendants.
“On one occasion at a newsagency in Strathmore on 6 September, two male victims were also violently assaulted.
“While the offenders have used different vehicles to flee the scene, on each occasion the vehicle involved has had an obscured number plate or no number plate attached.
“We have concerns about the violent nature of the offending and need the public’s help to identify and arrest these people before they commit any more offences.”
Police have released CCTV of the robbery in Strathmore in September. They have also released a still image of a 1998 green Ford Fiesta, believed to be involved in the robbery at Preston in August, and a 1999 black Jeep Gran Cherokee believed to be involved in the incident in Mitcham in September.
12 December 2013 – Armed Robbery – Service Station – Kealba
Published December 13, 2013 | Detectives from Brimbank Embona are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at a service station in Kealba last Friday.
Police have been told two men armed with a spear gun and an axe entered the service station on Sunshine Avenue at 4.20am.
The offenders forced the attendant into the rear office before stealing a large quantity of cigarettes and the cash drawer.
The offenders fled the scene in a vehicle that was waiting in Sunshine Avenue.
The first offender is described as Caucasian, approximately 180cm tall, thin build, and wearing dark clothing and his face covered with some sort of balaclava.
The second offender is described as Caucasian, approximately 175cm tall, solid build, about 20-25yrs of age and wearing a brown hoodie and grey track pants.
Police want to hear from anyone who saw a vehicle acting suspiciously in the vicinity on Friday morning
2 December 2013 – Update – Appeal – Armed Robbery – Pharmacy – Cheltenham
Published December 6, 2013 | Detectives at Kingston Crime investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at a pharmacy in Cheltenham last Wednesday.
Police have been told a man armed with a knife entered the pharmacy on Charman Road about 2.30pm
It is believed the robber approached the front counter and made demands for cash which was handed over.
He then fled the scene.
The offender was described as being around 170cm tall with a medium build.
He was wearing a blue hooded top with black pants, white runners and a black balaclava and gloves at the time of the incident.
Investigators have released an image of a man that may assist with their enquiries.
2 December 2013 – Update – Appeal – Armed Robbery – Service Station – Baybrook
Published December 6, 2013 | Police are appealing for witnesses following an attempted armed robbery at a service station in Braybrook last month.
It is believed a man aged in his 40s walked into a service station on Ballarat Road armed with a firearm just after 10.30pm on Saturday 2 November.
Detectives have been told the man approached the attendant and made demands for cash when another staff member produced a hammer.
The offender then fled the scene empty handed and was last seen running along Ballarat Road towards Sunshine.
He is perceived to be of Caucasian in appearance, 40 to 45-years-old and 178cm tall with a medium build.
He was wearing a black peaked cap with a red ACDC logo grey chequered hooded jacket, green t-shirt, blue jeans and white runners at the time of the incident.
Investigators have released an image of a man that may assist with their enquiries.
27 November 2013 – Latest Crime Statistics Released
Published November 29, 2013 | Victoria Police has today published its latest crime statistics.
The statistics compare the 12 months to September 2013 with the 12 months to September 2012.
The overall recorded crime rate across the state has increased by 2.7 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 4.6 per cent (up 18,069 offences to a total of 414,762 offences).
Crime against the person has increased by 2.5 per cent per 100,000 population. This is mostly due to an increase in the rate of assaults, up four per cent. Robbery is down 18.3 per cent, and assault excluding family violence is down 1.8 per cent.
Crime against property has decreased by 0.8 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population, with all categories down. This includes theft of motor vehicle (down 11.8 per cent), theft from motor vehicle (down 9.5 per cent), property damage (down 7.3 per cent) and residential burglaries (down 4.8 per cent).
Drug offences have increased by 8.8 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population.
Other crimes have increased by 17.4 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population, with the main driver being a rise in breaches of family violence intervention orders.
Deputy Commissioner Lucinda Nolan said the increase in crime rates was due to more detected crime, which includes offences such as drug use and possession and general behaviour in public offences.
She said police had also seen a rise in breaches of family violence intervention orders, which was directly related to more family violence based offences overall. Data shows that one in three intervention orders were breached.
Ms Nolan said while Victoria Police would continue its focus on those crimes identified in the latest statistics, police were increasingly concerned with some emerging trends, including: • Deceptions. Specifically credit cards being stolen – sometimes from mailboxes – and offenders using these cards in-store for multiple low value transactions without the victim’s knowledge. • Goods being stolen from shops. Some retailers are changing their practices in-store to introduce multiple exits, making it easier for offenders to walk out without paying for goods.
“We’re concerned with how some retailers and industries, through their own practices, are contributing to the crimes being committed,” Ms Nolan said.
“While financial institutions and retailers may be willing to factor in fraudulent activity into their profits, someone else ends up paying for it – normally the lawful customers.
“And then police resources are tied up in looking into crimes that could be prevented and are therefore taken away from dealing with organised crime, family violence, emergency management, public order and road policing.
“Let me say – we’re not walking away from investigating crimes. But our message is – don’t make it that easy for criminals.
“Everyone has a role to play. If we expect people to lock their doors and windows to prevent burglary, then we expect industries to crime-proof their service practices so that they don’t put profit ahead of their responsibilities to the community.”
The local area commanders in charge of each police service area have provided a written commentary accompanying the statistics. To view them visit My Place at www.vicpolicenews.com.au/my-place.html
17 November 2013 – Armed Robbery – Service Station – Murrumbeena
Published November 22, 2013 | Detectives from Glen Eira-Bayside CIU are investigating an armed robbery which occurred on a service station in Murrumbeena last night.
It’s believed two men entered the Kangaroo Road premises around 9.30pm armed with knives and after making demands stole a quantity of cash and cigarettes.
The first offender is described as about 178cm tall, with a thin build, wearing a light coloured hooded jumper, a black cap with red peak, black pants and carrying a light blue back pack.
He was also wearing dark gloves and appeared to have his face covered with a dark coloured bandana.
The second offender is described as 190cm, of medium build, wearing a pale red hooded top with what appears to be a picture of a woman on the front.
He is also described as wearing light coloured pants or jeans, dark gloves and a dark coloured balaclava.
The two men fled west on foot along Murrumbeena Crescent and have not been located.
The victim, a 30-year-old man from Bentleigh East was not injured during the robbery.
Investigators have released images of two men they believe can assist them with their enquiries.
