Two masked men wielding a machete have terrorised a milk bar owner in Altona Meadows.
The pair, also brandishing a baseball bat or pole, entered the Four Square Store in Victoria Street about 8.45pm on March 13.
Senior Constable Katherine Lehpamer, of the Altona North Embona Taskforce, said one of the men pushed the 60-year-old shopkeeper to the floor and demanded money.
The other smashed a glass covering on the counter in a bid to intimidate the man, who has run the family-owned business for 15 years.
Senior Constable Lehpamer said the pair fled when the shopkeeper’s wife activated an audible alarm.
“The victims are obviously scared and anxious about whether the offenders will come back or whether it will happen again,” she said. “The shop owner, who was pushed to the ground, said he had had trouble sleeping since the incident.
“It’s a very quiet residential area and we were quite surprised when we got the job for that area – it’s not something that happens often around there.
“We think the offenders could be local because they arrived on foot and left on foot.
“No cars were sighted directly around the milk bar at the time, so anyone who saw these two running or walking in the area around 8.45pm should to contact Crime Stoppers.”
The man with the machete was wearing a Halloween-style skull mask and dark clothes.
He was about 170-180 centimetres tall and of skinny build.
The male with the bat or pole wore a bandana over his face and a light grey hoodie.
He was about 150 centimetres tall and of skinny build.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000.
