The masked men struck at Dev Jewellers, located in the northern Melbourne suburb Reservoir, at about 3:10pm on Saturday 2 June.
According to a Victoria Police statement, the thieves gained entry to the premises by kicking open a locked door. Once inside, one of the men wielding a sawn-off shotgun threatened the jeweller, whilst another smashed jewellery cabinets with a wheel nut brace.
The men were said to have forced the victim, who was on his own and in the process of locking up at the time, to open a safe. They then placed a large amount of cash and jewellery inside a sports bag while also taking jewellery from the display cabinets before fleeing.
A Victoria Police spokesperson told Jeweller the total value of the items was still being determined.
Traumatic experience
In a press conference, detective sergeant Rick Fletcher said although no one was hurt during the robbery, the victim was quite “shaken up” and in a “bit of shock” afterwards.
“I spoke to his wife today [Sunday], and he’s still very upset and shaken by the incident,” he commented.
Fletcher added the shop was in a fairly built up and popular shopping area.
“I’m very surprised that they would do it at that time of the day when there are a lot of shoppers about,” he stated.
The offenders are thought to have run about 100 metres from the store to Bernard Street and possibly entered a getaway vehicle.
All three men have been described as tall with thin builds.
Darebin Crime Investigation Unit detectives are appealing for information and have released CCTV footage and images of the thieves in the hope it will assist the investigation.
No arrests had been made at the time of publication.
The news follows an incident last month where three armed men attempted to gain entry to Najaf Jewellers in Sydney Road, Brunswick – another Melbourne suburb.
Fletcher said there was no evidence linking the men from the Reservoir robbery to any other offences at this stage.
Dev Jewellers declined to comment when contacted by Jeweller.
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