Kebab shop workers were allegedly threatened with a knife by a teenager during a 32-hour crime spree across Melbourne, which ended this morning.
Two teenagers have been arrested, while a third remains on the run following a series of armed robberies that began Tuesday night at a Werribee service station and continued with 19 more incidents across suburbs including Truganina, Laverton North, Bentleigh, and Oakleigh.
Police say the group used a stolen Mercedes-Benz wagon to carry out robberies at service stations, tobacco shops, and fast-food outlets. Between 1 a.m. and 2:15 a.m. today, the same vehicle was linked to robberies at five service stations in Doncaster East, Mount Waverley, Clarinda, Clayton South, and Braeside.
During some of the crimes, the offenders threatened staff with knives and baseball bats. CCTV footage captured a hooded man producing a knife in a Narre Warren South kebab shop robbery around 6 p.m. yesterday, where the group fled with a cash register till.
Three hours later, staff at a Huntingdale pizza shop hid in the kitchen as the suspects stole cash. Later, around 2:15 a.m., CCTV showed the group smashing into a Braeside service station and ransacking the till and cigarette cabinet.
The crime spree ended in Pakenham after police spotted the stolen vehicle on the Princes Highway just after 6 a.m. Two boys, aged 15 and 17, were arrested in Olivia Court; the 17-year-old was already on bail for armed robbery. A third suspect fled on foot.
Local resident Ellie McKerrow described seeing up to 10 youths in black clothing and balaclavas, one wielding a samurai sword, escaping through her backyard after the group abandoned the car.
Police returned to Pakenham homes to collect forensic evidence as the investigation continues.
