Security guard’s wrists bound in pharmacy hold-up with machetes
Melbourne AU Aug 18 2019
Two men brandishing machetes have bound a security guard by the wrists and held up a pharmacy in Melbourne’s north-west before running off with prescription medication.
Police say the assailants stormed the Ascot Vale pharmacy on Union Street about 11.10pm on Thursday with machetes and threatened two staff and a security guard.
The guard, a 22-year-old St Albans man, was bound by the wrists before the offenders ran off with prescription medication and cash.
Police arrested a 19-year-old Flemington man around the corner at Blamey Street.
He has been charged with armed robbery and recklessly cause injury, and will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
Another pharmacy employee, a 51-year-old woman from Taylors Lakes, was treated at the scene for a minor wound to her hand.
A second woman working at the pharmacy was not injured.
A customer, a 30-year-old man, who was in the store when the men stormed in, hid in the staff room behind the pharmacy and was unharmed.
Police are still looking for a second suspect.
Police have released CCTV images in the hopes someone recognises him.
He is perceived as African in appearance and about 181cm tall with a medium build.
He was wearing a grey hooded jacket, grey tracksuit pants with a thick stripe down the leg and distinctive red and white sneakers.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
