Ram-raid gang smashes through shopping centre during two-night burglary blitz
A ram-raid gang has smashed their way into five businesses over two nights of violent burglaries in Melbourne's south east.
In the most dramatic raid, they drove a vehicle through a shopping centre to reach their target.
The gang can be seen in CCTV footage removing bollards in the middle of the night, as they prepare to turn the Karingal Hub Shopping Centre into a drive through.
An Isuzu ute smashed through glass doors and into the mall, speeding towards a jewellery store, before the thieves snatched as much as they could and drove back out.
Police said the stunt was extremely dangerous and could have caused serious injuries.
“Driving through a shopping center, even at night, there are staff and cleaners and bakers still going through so it puts public safety at risk,” Detective Senior Constable David Burgoyne said.
The thieves started their ram raid blitz early Monday morning at a Pearcedale service station.
Then they hit another service station at Somerville, and a newsagency in Baxter.
The next morning, they targeted the jewellery store in Frankston and another petrol station in Langwarrin.
The gang used a Suzuki Swift and the ute, acting as a threesome and a group of five, and only at night.
They were well prepared and fast but one member slipped up as he stole petrol in Narre Warren, revealing his face and delivering detectives a breakthrough.
The men are described as being of Caucasian and African descent.
Their loot included cigarettes, a safe, scratchies and even a cash donation tin - but it was the jewellery store in Frankston that delivered their biggest prize: $70,000 worth of gold and silver.
“Obviously it's caused a significant amount of damage to the store, in excess of $30,000 damage,” Det. Snr. Constable David Burgoyne said.
Police are investigating links with a similar robbery in Warragul two weeks ago, where thieves also drove into a jewellery store at night.
News break – August 13
