A man has been charged following a string of alleged armed robberies at convenience stores and fast food restaurants across Melbourne’s east.
Police arrested the man after searching two homes in Patterson Lakes and Templestowe Lower on November 2 as part of an ongoing investigation.
The man allegedly committed six armed robberies, along with two other individuals, in several eastern suburbs on the morning of October 13.
The individuals were allegedly armed with a firearm and an edged weapon during the crime spree, in which they targeted six different businesses within half an hour.
The robberies allegedly included a service station attendant being held at gunpoint when the offenders demanded cash.
The targeted suburbs included Glen Waverley, Forest Hill, Box Hill and Blackburn.
Eastern Crime Squad detective Acting Senior Sergeant Dale Maxwell said the offending trio allegedly unsuccessfully tried to take items from 7-Eleven stores in Blackburn North and Blackburn South, before allegedly stealing cash from two McDonald’s restaurants in Blackburn and a Shell Coles Express on Canterbury Rd.
Sgt Maxwell said despite no one being injured, the situation could have been “a lot worse”.
Any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage can phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Extracted from Herald Sun