Burqa bandit

By Shaun Inguanzo
THE crowbar raider who disguised himself by wearing a burqa during a raid on Noble Park Post Office is still on the run.
The attack was the beginning of a week-long series of violent raids on businesses in Noble Park and Springvale during which a meat cleaver was also used.
The raids have raised fears for traders’ safety.
The Star reported last week that the burqa bandit approached the post office counter on 31 July, pulled out the crowbar and demanded a staff member fill the bag with cash.
Frankston Embona Taskforce detective sergeant Peter Sterling said after the post office robbery, a spate of thefts against Springvale and Noble Park traders took place.
He said in other raids a thief struck a Heatherton Road newsagency, a Douglas Street pharmacy, a pharmacy in Buckingham Avenue, Springvale, and a Seaford post office all between 2 and 6 August.
Noble Park Chamber of Commerce secretary June Carson said the crimes were of great concern.
“It is difficult enough as a small business especially running a small shop that is owner-operated,” she said.
“We are extremely concerned for the safety of our retailers.”
A police statement said a man used a meat cleaver to rob the Springvale and Noble Park pharmacies.
In the Noble Park incident, police said a man ordered the attendant to open the register but the staff member could not open it.
The man then went behind the counter, pulled out two cash drawers and fled.
In Springvale, police said a man was wearing a mask when he entered the pharmacy at 5.25pm on Sunday and cut the leads connecting a computer to a cash drawer.
Police said he then grabbed the drawer and fled.
Det Sgt Sterling said police could not reveal how much cash was stolen on each occasion but he said to date none of the money had been recovered.
• Police arrested a 35-year-old Dandenong man on Monday (7 July).
He was charged with four counts of armed robbery and is expected to appear at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 1 November.