BERWICK, VIC. — Detectives from the Casey Crime Investigation Unit (CIU) earlier this month charged three men following a series of incidents in February, including an armed robbery at a jewellery store in Berwick.
Detectives will allege that three masked male offenders, armed with hammers and bats, entered a jewellery store on High Street in Berwick about 12pm on Tuesday, February 17.
They allegedly assaulted the shopkeeper and smashed glass cabinets before stealing jewellery.
He was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
It is alleged that the three males fled in a waiting Toyota Kluger.
The vehicle was allegedly stolen from Murrumbeena on February 14.
Police allege the three men targeted two other jewellery stores on the same day as masked male offenders allegedly got out of the allegedly stolen Toyota and approached a jewellery store at a shopping centre on Overland Drive, Narre Warren about 11.30am. They were allegedly armed with a hammer but did not attempt to enter the business.
A stolen Toyota allegedly reversed into the roller door of a store on The Circle in Altona North just after 1.30pm. Three people were inside at the time. They were not physically injured. The offenders were unable to gain access and fled empty-handed.
Following extensive investigations into the alleged incidents, which are believed to be linked, police arrested three men earlier this month.
An 18-year-old Frankson man, an 18-year-old Carrum Downs man and a 19-year-old Rosebud man were charged with a combined total of 48 offences, including armed robbery, intentionally causing injury, assault and other offences.
The 19-year-old Rosebud man was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today, March 30, whilst an 18-year-old Carrum Downs man was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on April 10.
An 18-year-old Frankston man was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on May 27.
