Police are investigating a series of service station armed robberies in Melbourne’s south-east last Wednesday (Dec. 4).
It is understood five offenders attended a service station on High St, Glen Iris about 10.30pm.
Three of the offenders exited a stolen black Volkswagen T-Roc, armed with a machete, hammer, and an axe.
They made demands for cigarettes and jumped over the service counter.
Two employees retreated into a staff room before the offenders fled the scene.
It is believed the same offenders attended a service station on Whitehorse and Middle-borough Rds, Blackburn about 10.45pm.
Officers were told a customer was threatened before the staff locked the service station doors.
The offenders fled the scene empty handed.
About five minutes later, the same offenders attended a service station on Springfield and Middleborough Rds, Black-burn North.
Three offenders entered the store, with one offender entering the service area armed with a machete.
They fled the scene with cigarettes and cash.
The Volkswagen attended another service station on Canterbury Rd, Ringwood about 10.55pm.
Three offenders entered the store, jumping over the counter to steal cigarettes and cash.
They fled the scene on Canterbury Rd and then travelled south on Eastlink.
The same offenders attended a service station on Poath and North Rds, Hughes-dale about 11.40pm.
Two offenders jumped over the service counter and took trays of cigarettes before fleeing in the stolen Volkswagen.
Shortly later the offenders attended a supermarket on Hawthorn Rd, Caulfield South.
The offenders attempted to force entry to the store by throwing objects at the door.
A staff member disturbed the group, and they fled empty handed.
No one was physically injured during the incidents.
The Volkswagen was stolen from a property in Doncaster last Monday (Dec. 2).
The investigation remains ongoing.