PARKDALE TAB was held up by two men, one claiming to have a gun, 9.30pm, Thursday 23 June, and almost $16,000 was stolen.
Their victim was bound with cable ties during the raid and threatened that the thieves knew his address, hinting that they would visit his house if he called the police.
When locking up for the night the victim told police he saw a man wearing dark pants, dark hoodie, and with a blue scarf covering his face, waiting outside. The man lifted the hoodie showing the gun and demanded to be let in. Another man then appeared wearing a hi-vis jacket, hood, and Guy Fawkes mask.
The victim was told to turn off the alarm and open the safe, which has an internal safe with time delay function. One thief took $900 cash from the front safe, while the other offender bound the victim’s hands and feet and removed his wallet, containing his licence, name and address.
The thieves smashed phones inside the TAB while waiting for the safe timer to expire, and asked questions specific to the TAB, such as its busiest times and when the till was emptied.
After the delay period the bound man was forced to open the safe. The thieves took $15,000 and ran off.
The victim managed to cut himself free and contact his cousin on Facebook and set off the alarm.
Kingston police urge anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
First published in Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 29 June 2016