The Ballan Western Freeway KFC where an employee was held up with a syringe.
A LONE female employee at the Western Freeway KFC restaurant at Ballan was bound, gagged and threatened with a syringe during a terrifying armed hold-up on Friday night.
Police said the woman had just walked a junior staff member to his parents’ car and was returning to the store’s rear entrance about 11.30pm when she was attacked by two men.
The Armed Crime Taskforce’s Detective Senior Constable Steve Boskovski said they pushed her back into the store where she was bound and gagged, with a syringe held to her neck.
“They forced entry to the safe and have taken off with thousands of dollars in cash,” Detective Senior Constable Boskovski said.
The 28-year-old woman suffered minor neck injuries and was admitted to Ballarat Base Hospital before being released about 4.30am Saturday.
He said a truck driver having a break at the adjoining BP service station saw a late model Ford Falcon driving rapidly away from the scene about the time of the incident, which lasted about 15 minutes.
“I would appeal to any other truck drivers there at the time to come forward if they have seen anything.
“The car was parked at the back of the store, which is the route the truck drivers take, so someone may have noticed something too.”
Detective Senior Constable Boskovski said the two males were described as about 180 centimetres tall with average builds.
Both were wearing black hooded jumpers, black gloves, black tracksuit pants and white runners.
Anyone with information can contact the Armed Crime Taskforce on 9865 2577 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au