Brimbank detectives are on the hunt for a cross-dressing armed robber who held up a Taylors Hill service station last week.
Police were called to the Caltex service station at Watervale shopping centre about 7.20pm on March 30 after a man, who was dressed in women’s clothing, demanded cash from the Taylors Road premises.
The man, who wore a wig, wide-brimmed hat, dress and thongs, went to the drinks fridge before approaching the counter and producing a home-made firearm and demanding cash.
Detective Senior Sergeant Cameron Reinke, of the Brimbank crime investigation unit, said some money was handed over before the man left. He was last seen heading north along Taylors Road.
The armed robbery occurred just hours before service stations in St Albans, Sunshine and Albion were held up by two knife-wielding offenders between 1am and 6.45am on Tuesday.
Investigators believe the same two offenders are responsible for the three incidents, starting with an armed robbery at a service station on Main Road West in St Albans just before 1am.
Two offenders entered the store and threatened the attendant before taking the cash drawer from the register and fleeing.
About 15 minutes later, the offenders held up a service station on Hampshire Road, Sunshine, where they stole an amount of cash and cigarettes.
The last incident occurred at 6.45am when the two men held up the attendant at a service station on Ballarat Road, Albion.
At this location, the offenders fled the store with no cash.
No one was injured in the robberies.
Police arrested a 15-year-old St Albans boy last week in relation to the robberies, while a second offender, believed to be of African appearance, remains at large.
No charges have been laid.
Police are keen to speak to the driver of a green car that pulled up at the Ballarat Road service station which was robbed and then drove away.
Detective Senior Sergeant Reinke said there was no link between the Taylors Hill armed robbery and the three Brimbank robberies.
Anyone with information about any of the armed robberies is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
