2 October 2013 – Armed Robbery – Pharmacy – Lalor
Published October 4, 2013 | 
Detectives at Mill Park Crime Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery at a pharmacy in Lalor this afternoon.
Police have been told two men armed with a knife and pole entered the pharmacy on Mc Kimmies Road near Darebin Road about 3.30pm.
It is believed the pair threatened the attendant before both offenders allegedly stole the cash till.
The bandits then fled the scene with a small amount of cash and were last seen running south along Darebin Drive and Cleveland Drive.
The offenders both had their faces covered and were both wearing a dark hooded top with dark pants.
27 September 2013 – Arrest – Armed Robberies – Western Suburbs – Melbourne
Published October 4, 2013 | Altona North Armed Robbery Taskforce have conducted a four-month operation regarding a series of armed robberies in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
The alleged armed robberies took place at the following locations;
• A supermarket in Harrington Square, Altona on 10 May.
• A chemist on Hampstead Road, Maribyrnong on 18 June.
• A newsagency on Buckley Street, Aberfeldie on 19 June.
Today detectives arrested a 48-year-old man who is currently in custody assisting police with their enquiries.
27 September 2013 – Update – CCTV Released – Armed Robbery – Business Premises – Bendigo
Published October 4, 2013 | Detectives from Bendigo Crime Investigation Unit have released images of a man they wish to speak with following an armed robbery at a store in Bendigo on Wednesday night.
The man entered the Queen Street store around 8.15pm on 25 September wearing a black hooded jumper and his face covered.
He approached the female attendant and made demands for cash, threatening her with a knife.
She handed over a quantity of money and he left the store.
The woman was not injured during the incident
Police have released the below images of a man who they believe may be able to assist with the investigation.
In the outside image the camera has distorted the colour of his jumper to grey, however it is black or a dark colour.
25 September 2013 – Armed Robbery – Jewellery Store – Shopping Centre – Preston
Published September 27, 2013 | Darebin Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating an aggravated burglary at a Preston shopping centre jewellery store yesterday.
It’s believed a man entered the Murray Street shopping centre store around midday.
The man used a hammer to smash a glass display cabinet and take a quantity of jewellery before leaving the store.
The man left the shopping centre and was driven away by an unknown person in a white, late-90s, Mitsubishi Magna.
The man is described as aged in his mid to late 20s, approximately 187cm tall with long dark hair that may have been a wig.
He was wearing light-coloured track pants, brown hooded top and a dark-coloured beanie.
No one was injured during the incident.
Police have released images of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries as well as a vehicle that may have been used during the incident.
24 September 2013 – Armed Robbery – Bank – Moe
Published September 27, 2013 | Police have charged a 39-year-old Moe man over an armed robbery which occurred at a bank in Moe yesterday afternoon.
Jason Tansley faced an out of sessions hearing last night and was remanded in custody to appear at the Latrobe Magistrates’ Court later today.
He was charged with armed robbery and prohibited person possess firearm.
17 September 2013 – Armed Robbery – Supermarket – Sunshine
Published September 20, 2013 | Brimbank Embona Taskforce detectives have released CCTV vision following an armed robbery at a supermarket in Sunshine last week.
Investigators have been told a man, armed with a machete, entered the Tallintyre Road store and demanded cash around 6.30pm pm on Wednesday 11 September.
One of the staff members complied and handed over an amount of cash.
The man, who had a scarf covering the lower part of his face, fled the store in an unknown direction.
No one was injured during the armed robbery.
Detectives believe the offender was loitering outside the supermarket prior to the incident and are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the armed robbery.
Police have released the below CCTV images of a man who they believe may be able to assist with the investigation.
12 September 2013 – Arrest – Armed Robbery – Sunshine
Published September 13, 2013 | Brimbank Embona Taskforce detectives have made an arrest in relation to an armed robbery which occurred in Sunshine on 10 September.
A 42-year-old St Albans man was arrested earlier today and has been charged with armed robbery.
He will face the Melbourne Magistrates’ court later today.
5 September 2013 – Armed Robbery – Supermarket – North Melbourne
Published September 6, 2013 | Melbourne Embona Taskforce detectives have released CCTV vision following an armed robbery at a supermarket in North Melbourne last week.
Investigators have been told a man, armed with a large knife, entered the Melrose Street store and demanded cash about 7.30pm on Thursday 29 August.
One of the staff members complied and handed over an amount of cash.
The man, who had a scarf covering the lower part of his face, fled the store in an unknown direction.
No one was injured during the armed robbery.
Detectives believe the offender was loitering outside the supermarket prior to the incident and are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the armed robbery.
Police have released the below CCTV images of a man who they believe may be able to assist with the investigation.
The offender is described as being Caucasian in appearance, thin build, approximately 165cm tall with dark eyes.
He was wearing a dark-coloured hooded jacket, blue jeans and runners.
29 August 2013 – Armed Robbery – Adult Store – Campbellfield
Published August 30, 2013 | Fawkner Embona Taskforce detectives have released CCTV vision after a woman was robbed at gun point at an adult store in Campbellfield last week.
Investigators have been told three men attended the Hume Highway store about 10.30pm on Friday 23 August.
Two men entered the store and pushed over a number of display stands while the third man, who was dressed in a fluorescent jacket, kept guard at the front door.
One of the offenders approached a female staff member and produced a firearm while the other offender emptied a cash register.
The three offenders left the store with an amount of cash.
Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the armed robbery.
Police are particularly interested to speak to anyone who saw a white VP Holden Commodore outside the store before the incident.
Investigators have released the below CCTV images of three men who they believe may be able to assist with the investigation.
28 August 2013 – Annual Crime Statistics – 2012/2013
Published August 30, 2013 | Victoria Police has today published its 2012/2013 annual crime statistics.
The statistics compare the 12 months to June 2013 with the 12 months to June 2012.
The overall recorded crime rate across the state has increased by 1.6 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 3.4 per cent (up 13,479 offences to a total of 406,497 offences).
Crime against the person has increased by 5.3 per cent per 100,000 population (or up 3903 offences to a total of 58,312 offences). This includes increases in: • abduction/ kidnap (up 12.5 per cent) • assault (up 8 per cent) • homicide (up 4.7 per cent) • sex (non rape) (up 0.6 per cent).
Robberies have however decreased by 15.7 per cent and rape has decreased by 4.8 per cent.
Crime against property has decreased by 3 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or down 3294 offences to a total of 263,577 offences). This includes decreases in: • theft from motor vehicle (down 9.6 per cent) • property damage (down 8.5 per cent) • theft of motor vehicle (down 7.9 per cent) • residential burglary (down 2.8 per cent).
Deception has however increased by 10.2 per cent, theft of bicycles is up 9.4 per cent and handling stolen goods is up 8 per cent.
Drug offences have increased by 12 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 2631 offences to a total of 21,469 offences).
Other crime such as weapons/ explosives, harassment and going equipped to steal, have increased by 17.3 per cent as a rate per 100,000 population (or up 10,239 offences to a total of 63,139 offences).
In releasing the latest statistics today, Chief Commissioner Ken Lay said despite two consecutive years of crime rates increasing, the 2012/13 rate was still significantly lower than in past years.
Over the last 10 years, while Victoria’s population has grown by 15.9 per cent, the crime rate has decreased by a total of 12 per cent (rates per 100,000 population). When looking at the raw numbers, the number of offences recorded has only increased by 1.9 per cent.
But Mr Lay said the latest statistics showed that the increase in crime against the person was still being primarily driven by a rise in family violence-related crime.
“Offences arising from family violence incidents accounted for more than a third of all crime against the person offences over the past year,” he said.
“We know that family violence related crime is significantly impacting on our crime statistics. Over the past 10 years, family violence related crime against the person has increased by nearly 400 per cent. This is mainly due to increase in assaults.
“We don’t think we’ve seen the extent that this horrible crime is having on our community. While we know changes to the way police respond to and record family violence incidents, as well as greater community confidence to report these matters, is pushing up these figures, it’s alarming that such a high volume of crime is being committed in the home and that people are at risk in their own homes.”
Mr Lay said there were encouraging signs in the reduction of robberies and also in the crime against property categories, with police operations targeting recidivism and high volume crimes such as theft of motor vehicles and property damage, particularly in the north west metro region.
He said some key concerns remained for Victoria Police, including: – The increase in the use of amphetamine-type stimulants – The increase in non family violence assaults – however there are less serious injuries being reported and more recorded in the non-injury and threats categories – The continued use of knives during assaults, and while only small numbers, the increase of firearms involved in assaults.
Other key statistics coming out of today’s release include: – There were 60,829 family incident reports submitted by police, 21.6 per cent higher than 2011/12. Offences related to family incidents, such as assaults and abduction/ kidnap, have risen as a result of this increased reporting. – Victoria Police processed 12.2 per cent more offenders.
The annual statistics can be viewed at www.police.vic.gov.au
