MOREE police are concerned about the growing number of violent robberies in the area after the third such incident in a month. Photo: Fairfax
MOREE police are concerned about the growing number of violent robberies in the area after the third such incident in a month.
On Thursday at 11am three men armed with a knife threatened a 22-year-old man walking along Iris St, after he refused to give them a cigarette.
The victim was assaulted, receiving bruising and grazes and his wallet stolen.
Police canvassed the area, searching for the three men responsible but were unable to locate the offenders.
The incident comes just five days after an automotive store on Heber St was robbed by three offenders, also armed with a knife.
The three entered the store just after 4.45pm on Saturday February 23, demanding money from the employee before fleeing in a vehicle waiting around the corner in Boston St.
On the evening of January 24, a petrol station in Frome St was also the target of an armed robbery, a man threatening the female staff member with a firearm before escaping with cash.
Barwon Local Area Command Crime Manager Gavin Rattenbury said police were 'disturbed' by the current spate of armed robberies in the Moree area.
"To have three robberies in three weeks is unusual," Detective Inspector Gavin Rattenbury said.
He appealed for members of the public or any witnesses to the incidents to come forward.
"We urge anyone with information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, to bring it to the attention of police."
"It may just be the last piece of information we are looking for."
Inspector Gavin Rattenbury said investigators were doing all they could to catch the offenders, releasing CCTV images of the men wanted over the two store robberies and canvassing the public.
In the latest street robbery, police were appealing for anyone who may have been in the Iris and Edward St areas around the time of the offence to come and speak to police.
The three men were described as being of Aboriginal appearance.