Police are investigating an armed robbery of an elderly woman in Berwick early this morning.

Police believe a man armed with an unknown weapon allegedly covered his face and grabbed the Berwick woman’s handbag, before dragging her across a driveway on William Street whilst she was attempting to retain the bag.

The offender then stole her handbag just after 4.30am.

He was last seen travelling in a grey coloured vehicle south on William Street towards Princess Highway.

The woman, believed to be aged in her 70s, sustained minor injuries.

Anyone with information regarding the armed robbery is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.

A 41-year-old man has faced court this afternoon following an armed robbery in Mornington on 2 January.

The incident occurred on Barretts Lane at around 10pm which resulted in a 53-year-woman sustaining head injuries.

The Mornington man has been charged with armed robbery, conduct endangering serious injury, assault, intentionally and recklessly cause injury, theft from motor car and criminal damage.

Police are appealing for public assistance following an armed robbery in a Geelong suburb this afternoon.

At about 2.25pm, two men have entered a business on Minerva Road and made a demand for drugs and cash.

The men threatened staff with knives before leaving the premises via a laneway, and it is believed they got into an unknown vehicle on Lascelles Avenue.

They took a quantity of both drugs and cash, and no one was injured during the incident.

Police are appealing for public assistance after a woman received head injuries following an incident in a Richmond pub on Saturday 10 December.

The woman was at a licensed premises on the corner of Cremorne and Swan Streets in Richmond with friends when a glass was thrown from the main dance floor, striking her in the head at about 12.45am.

She lost consciousness for a short time and received a laceration to her head that required stitches. She also received grazing and cuts to her knees.

Police would like to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the incident.

Police are seeking witnesses to an armed robbery on a licensed premise on the South Gippsland Highway in Cranbourne North last night.

Detectives believe this incident is the latest in a string of armed robberies across Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs.

Police have been told that two male balaclava-clad offenders entered the business at 9.55pm and confronted two employees working behind the counter.

The offenders, armed with an axe and knife, have demanded the victims empty the contents of a safe and till into a Woolworths brand green carry-bag.

The victims have complied with the demands, and prior to leaving the scene an offender has punched one of them to the face.

This incident forms part of an ongoing investigation undertaken by the Dandenong Embona Taskforce in regards to a series of four armed robberies believed to be committed by the same offenders over a two-week period.

The same offenders are believed to be responsible for three other armed robberies;

– One on a Lyndhurst service station on 17 November around 10.30pm where armed bandits stole a quantity of cash.

– The second, on 24 November was around 10.50pm where it’s believed the same men robbed another service station on Hallam Road, Hampton Park.

– The third, again on a service station was at Hallam Road, Narre Warren North around 10.40pm where cash and cigarettes were stolen.

The first offender is described as Caucasian, aged in his early to mid 20’s, 180cm tall with a medium build and pronounced Australian accent.

The second offender is described as Caucasian, aged in his early to mid 20’s, 170cm tall with a thin build and distinctive tattoo on his right calf.

Both offenders wore dark clothing at the time of the incident.

Police are concerned by the escalating level of violence displayed and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Police are searching for two offenders involved in a string of 10 armed robberies on taxi drivers across Melbourne’s north-western suburbs.

Detectives believe the offenders request a taxi to attend a random residential address on the pretext of being driven to Tullamarine Airport.

The pick-up areas chosen are usually residential courts or dead end streets with access to a park.

Upon the arrival of a taxi, the offenders will approach from behind and threaten the driver with a firearm or possibly a knife before taking mobile phones and cash.

Police believe since July 2011, the offenders have committed the following armed and attempted armed robberies:

 20 July, Hamel Street, Albion;
 22 July, Derrimut Street, Albion;
 10 August, Hayden Crescent, Albion;
 11 August, Gail Court, Albion;
 28 August, Churchill Avenue, Tullamarine;
 31 August Baxter Close, Gladstone Park;
 2 September, Clarks Road, East Keilor;
 13 September, Thea Court, Keilor Park;
 17 September, Michelin Street, Tullamarine; and
 21 September, Epson Street South, Altona Meadows.

In each incident, both offenders wore dark clothing and balaclavas and removed the taxi ignition keys before fleeing the scene in an unknown vehicle.

Police are appealing for public assistance following an armed robbery in Kingsbury this month.

Investigators have been told that a man entered a service station on Plenty Road around 10.20pm on Monday 14 November.

The man selected a magazine before approaching the female store attendant.

He placed a large knife and a black plastic bag on the counter and demanded cash before leaving the premises on foot with a small amount from the till.

The man police wish to speak to in relation to the incident is described as being Caucasian, aged around 30 years of age and 175-180cm tall with short brown hair and facial hair.

He was wearing blue jeans, a blue hooded top and a blue baseball cap with white trim.

Detectives have released still images of the man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.

Police are appealing for witnesses following an attempted robbery in Ballarat last night.

Investigators have been told a 38-year-old woman was withdrawing money from an ATM at the corner of Windermere and Sturt streets just before 9pm when she was approached by an unknown male wearing a balaclava.

The man made several demands for money but when the woman refused to hand over any cash, he fled the scene.

The woman, from Miners Rest, was not injured during the incident.

The offender is described as being slim build and approximately 165 centimetres tall.

He was wearing dark blue jeans and a blue or green polar fleece top.

Police believe the man was also wearing a red lanyard around his neck.

Police are appealing for public information following an armed robbery on a business in Lyndhurst last Thursday.

Detectives have been told that two men entered the Dandenong-Hastings Road premises at 10.33pm.

It is believed the men approached the counter and demanded the attendant place money into a bag they had with them.

The attendant handed over the cash draw from the till before the offenders fled the scene.

Both men wore dark clothing and balaclavas, and were armed with an axe, which had a yellow handle and a machete.

The first offender is described as Caucasian, 175cm tall with a medium build and distinctive tattoo on his right calf.

The second offender is described as Caucasian, 180cm tall with a medium build.

To assist the investigation, police have released an image of the first offender, including his distinctive tattoo.

Police believe the incident may be linked to a series of armed robberies across Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, and are urging anyone with information to come forward.

Police are searching for three men following an armed robbery at Ferntree Gully early this morning.

Investigators have been told that three masked men entered the hotel on Burwood Highway around 12.30am.

Armed with knives and a handgun, the trio forced staff members and patrons to lie on the floor while they seized an amount of money from the cashier area.

The men then fled the scene through the hotel car park, where it’s believed they left in a maroon or dark green Ford sedan which had been parked nearby.

Detectives believe the first man armed with a firearm was wearing a white mask, dark hooded top with yellow ‘Los Angeles’ logo on the front, jeans and gloves.

The second man, armed with a knife, is described as having a solid build. He was wearing a light coloured hooded top and grey track suit pants.

The third man, armed with a knife, is described as having a thin build. He was wearing a black mask covering his face and dark coloured hooded top.

Investigators have released images of two of the men who may assist with their enquiries.