Two men have been charged after the owner of a Melbourne tobacco store was allegedly threatened with a firebomb attack if he did not make a payment.
Police arrested two men, both 21, yesterday after they allegedly targeted a convenience store on Fairways Boulevard, Craigieburn on Tuesday evening.
Two men allegedly entered the convenience store around 10.30pm on Tuesday and spoke to a member of staff, before demanding to see the owner as there was “someone on the phone who needed to speak to him”.
The male voice on the phone allegedly threatened the owner of the store, suggesting that if they did not pay up, the store would be firebombed.
The victim refused, and there was a verbal confrontation before the two men fled the premises in a silver Mercedes Benz.
Nobody was physically injured during the incident.
Police arrested a 21-year-old Mickleham man and a 21-year-old Greenvale man over the incident.
The Mickleham man has been charged with extortion, threats to destroy/endanger property, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and unlicensed driving.
The Greenvale man was charged with threats to destroy/endanger property.
They will face court today.
Commander Paul O’Halloran from Victoria Police Crime Command said the arrests were key in the squad’s efforts in dismantling crime syndicates.
“This was an offence with direct links to those at the top of the syndicate and one that was also designed to create significant fear through the intimidation of the victims,” he said.
“The police and the community expect these offenders to be held to account for their violence and intimidation.”
O’Halloran said the fight was “far from over” and that the arson attacks were putting people’s livelihoods, as well as their lives, at risk.
”While we will continue to do everything we can to disrupt the serious and violent offending linked to these groups, we still have those willing to target stores through arson attacks and more,” he said.
“To be blunt, we know there are people out there with information that could assist us.
“If there are shop owners out there who have been approached to pay sums of money or who have been threatened in any way, then we urge you to contact police.
