Advertisement

'We'll kill you': Rampaging Melbourne thugs terrorise staff

The hunt is on for a gang of violent youths who terrorised workers at three service stations in as many days, in Melbourne's north-west.

The owner has told Seven News how the armed thugs threatened his staff during their destructive rampage.

CCTV shows a terrified staff member lock himself in a safe room as 10 masked youths ransack his store.

A terrified staff member locks himself in a safe room as 10 masked youths ransack the service station and smash up everything in sight. Picture: 7 News
A terrified staff member locks himself in a safe room as 10 masked youths ransack the service station and smash up everything in sight. Picture: 7 News

But the thugs rush in after him, smashing through the glass and dragging him back out into the store.

The violent robbery occurred at 3.30 Sunday morning at the Rockbank BP. The gang used hammers to smash everything in sight - even a staff member’s car.

On Friday night an attendant at the Laverton BP was chased into the back room and struck on the arm with a machete.

The violent robbery occurred at 3.30 Sunday morning at the Rockbank BP, in Melbourne's north-west. Picture: 7 News
The violent robbery occurred at 3.30 Sunday morning at the Rockbank BP, in Melbourne's north-west. Picture: 7 News

Just one night later, the store was hit again with a youth, believed to be a girl, intent on destroying as much as possible.

More than $30,000 of cigarettes were taken over the three nights.

Trevor Dance, who owns all three of the service stations, said the thugs threatened his employees saying: "We'll kill you."

“First thing you think is, are the staff are okay?” he said.

“Are they injured? Are they hurt? Are they going to suffer from this for the rest of their lives?”

The Laverton service station was also targetted on Friday night. Picture: 7 News
The Laverton service station was also targetted on Friday night. Picture: 7 News

He said the thieves who smashed windows, fridges and other property have “no respect”.

It's not only staff who've been terrorised by this gang, but also customers. On Saturday night one man was forced to hide in the back room after coming inside to ask about the previous night's robbery.

Police are now investigating whether the robberies, which all occurred around 3.30am, are linked.

“For people who think they can just go about to do these things is pretty offensive, really,” said Detective Sergeant Andrew Button.

“It would be a terrifying experience for the people who had to go through that.

“A lot of the damage and the violence is just senseless violence.

“At the end of the day police are doing their job but the courts aren’t. Even if these guys get caught tonight, they'll be out the next day.”