Frighting CCTV footage has been released showing the moment African thugs leaped over a service station counter armed with hammers and robbed a Melbourne petrol station.
The video shows up to six men who smashed their way into a service station on the corner of Wood Street and Dalton Road in Thomastown, in the city’s north, about 4.45am on Wednesday.
The men of African appearance stormed the station counter with their faces covered, wearing black hooded jumpers and gardening gloves.
CCTV footage has been released showing the moment armed African thugs smashed their way into a service station in Thomastown, in Melbourne’s north, about 4.45am on Wednesday
The thugs of African appearance stormed the Melbourne service station armed with hammers
In the video, two members wielding hammers can be seen jumping over the counter, while four others make their way through the side door.
The group then corner an unsuspecting station attendant – who attempts to lock himself in a back room – and force him to sit in a chair.
Meanwhile, other members raid the station’s cigarette cupboard and fill up a giant sack with as many packets as they can.
The station attendant is then forced to open the cash register to allow the armed robbers to steal wads of cash.
In the video, the group corner an unsuspecting station attendant – who attempted to lock himself in a back room – and force him to sit in a chair
Meanwhile, other members raid the station’s cigarette cupboard and fill up a giant sack with as many packets as they can
The station attendant is then forced to open the cash register to allow the armed robbers to steal wads of cash
Satisfied with their haul, the thugs eventually leave the station trashed and in complete disarray.
Victorian police said the men stole a ‘significant amount’ of cigarettes before fleeing in a silver SUV.
Minutes later, two men armed with a hammer and a knife entered another petrol station on Dalton Road and Keon Parade in nearby Keon Park.
The pair jumped over the counter and demanded the cashier open the register, before slapping him in the face several times.
Satisfied with their haul, the thugs eventually leave the station trashed and in complete disarray
Minutes later, two men armed with a hammer and a knife entered another petrol station (pictured) on Dalton Road and Keon Parade in nearby Keon Park
Four other African youths then walked in and stole cash and cigarettes and drove off in a black sedan.
‘He’s quite distraught,’ Detective Senior Constable Mark Mulvany told the Herald Sun about the Keon Park shopkeeper’s condition.
‘The victim was slapped a number of times to the face during the ordeal and physically moved around he store but he did not sustain serious injuries.’
Police were investigating whether the two robberies were a coordinated strike, days after African gangs made headlines for a string of violent incidents.
The pair jumped over the counter and demanded the cashier open the register, before slapping him about the face several times