Three teenagers have been charged in connection with an armed robbery at a jewellery store in Melbourne’s western suburbs. CCTV footage captured the alarming scene, showing a group of masked individuals wielding weapons, including a sledgehammer, nonchalantly walking past shoppers before forcefully entering the Sunshine gem shop.
At the time of the incident, Luxshaiga Gopalakrishnan was working behind the counter and, terrified, locked herself in a back office for safety. She recalled the chaos, expressing how devastating it felt, especially as a new mother witnessing such violence unfold around her.
In a matter of minutes, the assailants managed to fill duffle bags with jewellery valued at over $100,000. A nearby shop owner attempted to intervene, brandishing a chair for protection, but soon retreated when he realised he was outnumbered.
Following the robbery, police apprehended a 17-year-old boy and two 18-year-old men at a residence in Point Cook, where they confiscated several weapons. The suspects face multiple charges, including armed robbery, and are scheduled to appear in court later this month. Authorities believe that additional accomplices were involved in this audacious crime and are still at large.