In a brazen daylight robbery, three individuals armed with hammers and bats stormed into Official Berwick Jewellers on High Street, Berwick around noon today. The culprits, clad in black hoods, masks, and high-visibility shirts, shattered glass cabinets and swept jewellery into their bags as a female shopkeeper looked on in shock.
“I was sitting behind the counter when suddenly three people entered and started smashing all the display windows,” recounted shop attendant Basima Goga. “They grabbed some items, and while we attempted to defend ourselves, the situation was truly terrifying.”
In a valiant effort to thwart the robbery, a male shopkeeper confronted the assailants and attempted to push them out of the store. Unfortunately, he was assaulted during the encounter as the chaos unfolded.
The situation took a dramatic turn when the male shopkeeper grabbed a wrench and charged towards the perpetrators, prompting the trio to flee the scene in haste.
A male shopkeeper confronted them and tried to push them out of the store, and he was assaulted as they continued their rampage.
The trio raced out of the store when the male shopkeeper picked up a wrench and ran towards them.
The three males fled the scene in a waiting Toyota Kluger driven by a fourth male.
The male shopkeeper, aged in his 50s, was treated at the scene for upper body injuries and taken to hospital in a stable condition.
“For his age, it was bad to be honest. It was bad because they took him to emergency now to do CT scan for him as hammer into his head and hand,” Goga said.
Police believe the same group then drove across the city to a jewellery store on The Circle in Altona North, where the same stolen Kluger was rammed into the shop’s roller door.
They were unable to gain access to the store and fled empty-handed.
Crime scenes have been set up at each of the shops while detectives investigate.
The thieves remain on the run.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, with CCTV/dashcam footage or any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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