According to multiple reports, four males wearing balaclavas and armed with hammers targeted the Michael Hill store at Westfield Plenty Valley shopping centre just before midday on Tuesday 14 March.
CCTV footage shows the robbers smashing display glass cabinets and filling bags with jewellery before fleeing the shopping centre in an alleged stolen vehicle. The incident took about 20 seconds.
A Victoria Police statement confirmed that four men aged between 19 and 27 years old had been arrested in relation to the alleged armed robbery and car theft.
Of the four males, one was charged in relation to the armed robbery and was remanded in custody to appear in court on 8 June.
The other three men were released pending further investigation in relation to the armed robbery; however, they were charged with car theft and other offences. They were scheduled to appear in court at later dates.
The statement also noted that detectives were searching for a fifth man in relation to the armed robbery.
Melbourne attacks continue
As previously reported by Jeweller, jewellery stores across Melbourne have recently been prime targets of armed robberies, with at least three brazen heists taking place in 2017.
Until now, however, the attacks have primarily taken place at independent jewellery businesses located on high streets as opposed to chain stores located in shopping centres.
Victoria Police did not respond to Jeweller’s request for comment regarding the value of goods stolen during the Michael Hill robbery or whether the incident was related to the jewellery store robberies that took place in Melbourne earlier this year.
Michael Hill staff declined to comment when contacted by Jeweller.
scenes from The robbery
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