Store owner held at gunpoint as thieves steal $150,000 in jewels
A jewellery store owner was forced to the ground and had a gun held to his head during a terrifying armed robbery in Melbourne’s south east.
Three masked men, allegedly armed with a gun, machete and hammer, raided the Glenhuntly Road store in Elsternwick by smashing through the glass cabinets about 1:30pm Wednesday.
The offenders forced the owner and two female employees to the ground as they forced him to open a safe.
When the robbers realised it was empty, they stole $150,000 worth of diamond rings and gold necklaces from the store before fleeing in a black Holden Commodore with no plates.
However, just around the corner, a witness was filming the getaway. One of the offenders pointed a gun at her before they sped away.
The car was last seen at Gardenvale and police believe the group got into a second car, a black Ford Territory, at some stage.
A machete and hammer were found at the scene and are being investigated.
Acting Detective Sargent Nathan Toohey said police are hunting down the robbers, who are of Sudanese appearance and believed to be in their early 20s.
Each of the victims said they were shaken and terrified over the incident.
