Detectives from Casey Crime Investigation Unit have charged three men following a series of incidents last month, including an armed robbery at a jewellery store in Berwick.
It is alleged three masked male offenders, armed with hammers and bats, entered a jewellery store on High Street in Berwick about 12pm on Tuesday, 17 February.
They allegedly assaulted the shop keeper and smashed glass cabinets before stealing jewellery.
He was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
It is alleged the three males fled in a waiting Toyota Kluger.
The vehicle was allegedly stolen from Murrumbeena on 14 February.
Police allege the three men targeted two other jewellery stores on the same day:
- masked male offenders got out of the allegedly stolen Toyota and approached a jewellery store at a shopping centre on Overland Drive in Narre Warren about 11.30am. They were allegedly armed with a hammer but did not attempt to enter the business.
- the stolen Toyota allegedly reversed into the roller door of a store on The Circle in Altona North just after 1.30pm. Three people were inside at the time and they were not physically injured. The offenders were unable to gain access and fled empty-handed.
Following extensive investigations into the alleged incidents, which are believed to be linked, police arrested three men earlier this month.
An 18-year-old Frankson man, an 18-year-old Carrum Downs man and a 19-year-old Rosebud man were charged with a combined total of 48 offences, including:
- armed robbery
- intentionally cause injury
- assault
- reckless conduct endanger serious injury
- attempted aggravated burglary
- going equipped to steal
- theft of motor vehicle
- loiter with intent to commit indictable offence
- criminal damage
The 19-year-old Rosebud man was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 30 March.
The 18-year-old Carrum Downs man was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates' Court on 10 April.
The18-year-old Frankson man was remanded to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on 27 May.
Kathryn Muffett
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