UPDATE: Police say they are investigating whether two armed robberies in Sebastopol and Redan overnight are linked.
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Acting Superintendent Trevor Cornwill said the robberies, one which saw a teenage girl threatened with a knife at Hungry Jacks in Redan were unusual for Ballarat and he praised the bravery of the victims.
“We are investigating to see if they are linked,” he said.
“Obviously we had one male involved in the first and two on the second occasion.
“We’ll review footage from the area and see if we can get a better description and then make an appeal to the public once we have that information.
“It’s very traumatic to be approached by someone asking for money. they’ve done the right thing and not challenged the offenders.”
EARLIER: TWO armed robberies overnight in Redan and Sebastopol have left staff terrified.
The robberies happened at the Hungry Jacks restaurant at the corner of Rubicon and Skipton Streets at 10.30pm followed by another at the Sebastopol Bowling Club just before midnight.
At Hungry Jacks a female staff member was mopping the floor when she was approached by a masked man who told her to get back behind the counter or she would be stabbed.
The victim told investigators that she could see a silver handle in the man’s pocket believed to be a knife.
Another staff member handed over cash to the man who ran from the store, running east along Rubicon Street.
No customers were in the restaurant at the time and no one was injured.
The robber is described as having a solid build and was wearing a dark hoodie with a face covering.
Just 90 minute later, two masked robbers entered the Sebastopol Bowling Club in Albert Street, threatening staff members.
One man stood watch over the security guard, while the second man walked behind a counter and grabbed an amount of money from the cash drawers.
Both men ran from the premises before police arrived and no one was injured.
Police forensics crews will be on the scene of both robberies today to determined whether they are linked.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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