By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A $350,000 reward is being offered to identify a man who allegedly shot a Springvale South service station attendant with a silver handgun during an attempted armed robbery last year.
Armed Crime Squad detectives have also released CCTV footage of the masked, armed man entering the 7-11 store on Springvale Road in Springvale South about 4.30am on Wednesday 8 August 2018.
An information caravan will be set up at the scene until 4pm on 13 November and from 4am-5pm on 14 November.
The 40-year-old victim was shot in the arm as he tried to lock himself in a storeroom behind the counter, police say.
He was later taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The victim was “extremely lucky” not to have suffered more serious injuries, Detective Inspector Dean Thomas of the Armed Crime Squad said.
“He was going about his business at his workplace and has the right to feel safe doing so.
“He has suffered significant physical and mental trauma and we are keen to solve this on his behalf.”
Police were confident that people would be able to identify the offender from the footage.
The would-be robber failed to open the counter till and fled on foot in a southerly direction.
He was described as African appearance, about 180 centimetres and wearing a beanie, black-and-white bandana over his face, a dark coloured top, dark coloured pants and black-and-white Adidas shoes.
Police are investigating if he is linked to an earlier attempted armed robbery at a servo on Heatherton Road near Hosken Street just after 4am.
It’s believed that a vehicle was used to attend both hold-ups – and at least one other offender was involved, Det Insp Thomas said.
The $350,000 reward is paid at the discretion of the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender or offenders.
The Director of Public Prosecutions may also consider indemnifying the informant from prosecutions.
Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au.
