Three masked men brandishing axes and a machete held-up an Ardeer post office on Saturday, allegedly robbing the store of $10,000 and cartons of cigarettes.
Owner of Australia Post’s Deer Park East branch, Munirul Khondker, said three men walked into his shop about 4.30pm as he was counting the day’s takings.
He said he was about to transfer cash from a smaller safe into a bigger safe when the men walked in and threatened him with the weapons.
“One came in with a big knife and another two had axes,” he told Star Weekly. “I jumped inside [his house at the rear] and shut the door. They tried to open it and break-in with the axe.”
Mr Khondker said the trio made off with the cash he was handling before they walked in, about $10,000, as well as between 50-to-60 cartons of cigarettes and chocolates.
They chanted “Allahu Akbar”, meaning God is the greatest in Arabic, as they fled the shop, he said.
He and his wife have never been robbed in the 13 years they have run the Holt Street business. “My wife is so scared,” he said.
There were no customers in the store at the time of the incident.
Police are investigating
Victoria Police spokeswoman Belinda Betty said police were investigating the armed robbery and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Security footage allegedly shows the trio leave the shop and jump into a car being driven by a fourth man.
Mr Khondker said his neighbour witnessed their getaway and said the offenders escaped in a small, black car without number plates. They are described as being slim and about 170 centimetres tall. At the time of incident, they were dressed in black and were wearing white face masks.
An Australia Post spokeswoman said the company was providing support to the post office owner and his staff, but was unable to comment further due to the police investigation.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
