MILDURA, VIC. — Mildura Crime Investigation Unit detectives charged a man following two armed robberies and a subsequent pursuit in the Mildura area on Friday evening.
Officers were first called to reports of a man allegedly armed with a knife at a supermarket on Ilex Street in Red Cliffs about 5.50pm.
A short time later, police were called to an armed robbery at a bottle shop on Indi Avenue about 6.05pm.
It is alleged cash, cigarettes and alcohol were stolen on each occasion.
There were no injuries.
Following an extensive search of the area, police spotted a vehicle of interest, a white Holden Commodore with no registration plates, on Sturt Highway in Mildura.
Officers attempted to intercept it before it is alleged the vehicle took off at speeds of up to 140km/h.
Police a short time later received reports of the vehicle changing a tyre near the intersection of Dairtnunk and Westcliffs avenues in Cardross.
Officers moved in, and the driver was unable to change the vehicle’s tyre, fleeing on three wheels.
The vehicle’s wheel left a significant trail of gauges in the road which officers were able to follow before the driver pulled over on Calder Highway in Carwarp, where the driver was arrested.
The 30-year-old Morwell man was charged with two counts of armed robbery, two counts of dangerous driving whilst pursued by police and committing an indictable offence whilst on bail.
He was remanded to appear at Mildura Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The outcome of the appearance is not known.
