“Outraged” traders plagued by armed teen thieves storming petrol stations and convenience stores have called on magistrates to take their plight seriously and get tough on the scourge of youth crime.
Fed-up shop traders who have been targeted by armed teenagers stealing cigarettes have called on magistrates to consider the wellbeing of victims amid a surge of armed robberies.
Gangs of masked and armed teenagers have been storming petrol stations and convenience stores across town, stealing thousands of dollars worth of legal smokes in daylight and late-night attacks.
Under the command of more senior organised crime figures, the teenagers are paid as little as a couple of hundred dollars to steal the goods before passing them on to dodgy retailers.
Senior police have noticed a strong rise in the amount of armed robberies at stores since March, while noticing a decline in the amount of car thefts from homes.
The teenagers have realised quick cash can be made from selling the stolen smokes to organised crime figures who then distribute them to illicit retailers.
Larger retailers, including some of the major supermarkets, have also been subject to the violent attacks.
One service station attendant, whose bayside petrol station was targeted by four masked thugs last month, said courts needed to come down harder on youth offenders.
Speaking generally, they said fellow workers were left anxious and outraged at youths being granted bail after terrifying armed robberies and car thefts.
“I’m outraged that these people are caught, then released on bail,” the worker said.
“How the hell do you think we feel when we see what happens the next day?
“I should not have to feel afraid to go to sleep at night, go for a walk in my own neighbourhood, go shopping and especially for me now to go to work.”
Another Shell service station was hit by offenders armed with machetes late last week before they fled the Kew store with a stack of cigarettes.
Three males attempted to steal smokes from a Cranbourne North shop earlier this year. Picture: Victoria Police
Master Grocers Australia chief executive David Inall said his members were fed up with the political spin that avoided focusing on victims.
“We’d love to hear politicians say that they’re increasingly concerned for the welfare and safety of school kids working in stores that are having machetes pulled in their faces,” he said.
“This is a downward spiral that has many, many, many implications, it’s a national disgrace.”
Lincoln Wymer, operations manager for the Reddrop Group of IGA and Foodworks, said: “Our bail laws and courts are weak … The assailants are getting younger, all while the government is trying to raise the age for charging people.”
“The government and courts have little care for the victims.”
Australian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Theo Foukkare blasted the decisions of Victorian magistrates, who have come under fire for releasing young criminals back on to the streets.
He also implored smokers to quit buying illicit tobacco as it only fuelled organised crime.
“It’s madness and it’s out of control.
Most petrol and convenience retailers operate 24 hours, seven days a week, so frontline teams are a huge target,” he said.
“When these alleged offenders get bailed on the same day they are arrested, you’ve really got to ask what on earth is going through the minds of the magistrates who send them back out into the community.”
The state government said the violence was “unacceptable” and they were working on laws to keep retailers safe.
“Everyone deserves to be safe at work and anything that makes them feel threatened is unacceptable,” a spokesperson said.
“That’s why we’ve already announced we’ll change the law to send a clear message that attacks against retail and other customer-facing workers are unacceptable.
“We’ll also change the Control of Weapons Act so police can conduct their searches for knives more easily, for longer periods and in more situations — because we’ll always give police the tools they need to keep Victorians safe.”
Australian Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Theo Foukkare is urging smokers to stop buying illicit tobacco.
Smash and grab cigarette thefts on the rise
Teenagers have become increasingly involved in the smash-and-grab thefts of cigarettes in a trend that is traumatising convenience store staff members.
The brutal and unforgiving tactic to make a few hundred dollars is having serious mental consequences for grocery and convenience store workers who are subject to the horrific attacks.
Many of the victims are teenagers themselves who are working a few hours at the grocer or supermarket after school or on weekends.
Police say they have noticed an increase in the amount of armed robberies at service stations that target cigarettes in recent months.
The teenagers are recruited to steal as many legal cigarettes as possible which will eventually end up in the hands of dodgy, illicit retailers across town.
Machetes can be bought with ease for as little as $13 and teenagers, as many people are well aware, are having little trouble sourcing a getaway vehicle.
After raiding the tobacco cupboards of several stores in one night and literally throwing them into the boot of a car, the teens are understood to be dropping them at an agreed location for those higher up the chain.
This may be a suburban car park or factory in a quiet industrial area, likely late at night to avoid suspicion.
The Herald Sun has seen footage of teens hauling cigarettes into the boot of a car on social media accounts.
Once in the hands of the organised criminal orchestrating the armed robberies, those stolen smokes are sold and distributed to the 1000-plus illicit retailers across the suburbs.
The crooks know the teenagers, who are out earning a quick buck, will likely suffer only minor consequences if they’re caught in the act.
This is why traders and shopkeepers are fearing the worst.
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