- Published:
- Sunday 17 May 2026 at 6:28 am
Detectives from the Armed Crime are appealing for information after reopening a cold case investigation into an armed robbery of an Armaguard truck at Chadstone shopping centre in 1994.
Two Armaguard employees, a 61-year-old North Melbourne man and a 54-year-old Sandringham man, were at the centre’s cinema on Monday, 16 May 1994 to collect the weekend’s takings.
Around 11.40am, they exited the complex carrying three bags filled with cash when they were confronted by a lone male offender wearing a balaclava and carrying a handgun and a cardboard box.
The man was described at the time as approximately 30-40 years old, around 170-178cm tall with a medium/slim build. He was wearing a fawn long sleeve top, a fawn balaclava and brown gloves.
The man demanded the two Armaguard employees “get down, drop the money” at gunpoint.
One guard immediately lay on the ground and the second moved in the direction of the offender as he also went to lay down.
The offender consequently – and deliberately – shot him in the lower leg area. The round struck him in the right ankle before ricocheting into the shoe of the other guard.
The offender took the bags filled with cash and the two Armaguard revolvers before walking towards the lower level of the shopping centre. As he did, he pointed a firearm at a number of nearby civilians.
While attempting to flee the area, he was followed by a good Samaritan – a 40-year-old Doveton man.
Two additional men were standing in the carpark as the offender exited the automatic doors. He pointed the revolver at one of them, ordering him to go back inside the shopping centre.
When he did not immediately comply, the offender struck him in the upper arm with the revolver. Both men then went back inside the centre.
Upon realising he was still being followed by the good Samaritan, the offender advanced towards him, shooting the 40-year-old Doveton man in the left leg, completely shattering his femur.
He then continued out of the complex and into the lower carpark area, entering a corridor where he dropped the cardboard box, which contained a stolen revolver from one of the Armaguard employees, as well as one of the bags of cash.
The man continued along the corridor, forcing open an external door to get to a staircase which lead to the lower level of the carpark.
The offender dropped a number of items before he fled in an unknown direction with two money bags containing a significant amount of cash.
Three men were conveyed to hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds.
Eventually, the investigation was filed as unsolved and the seized crime scene exhibits placed in long term storage.
Investigators from the Armed Crime Squad reopened the investigation after new intelligence was received.
Detectives are appealing for anyone who has any information to come forward and speak to police.
Anyone with any further information about the incident or the man involved is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Adam Tilley, Armed Crime Squad:
“Given the severity and the callous nature of this offending, we believe it to be unlikely this was either the first or the last time the offender committed an armed robbery such as this one.
“It’s also unlikely that there isn’t someone out there who knows of someone who offended in this way – suddenly coming into that amount of cash isn’t easy to explain away.
“We believe there will be someone out there who has information on this incident and who was involved.
“Two of our victims have sadly passed away and therefore do not get to see justice served in what would have been an incredibly confront incident for them. It is time for someone to do the right and come forward to tell us what you now.
“We’re also speaking to police agencies in other states to see if they might have any offending that matches ours.”
Media Unit
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