Earlier this month, we published a story about a group of thieves who had robbed six pokies venues across Victoria. They had committed the series of crimes over the course of 8 months in 2012, and police had just one photo to provide as evidence.
Last week, the authorities announced that they would provide a $100 000 reward for anyone who could provide information that would lead to their arrest – and they are pleased to report that the group has been apprehended.
Over the course of the year, the group of bandits (aged 18 to 20) had stolen thousands of dollars from local pokies clubs, including: Manningham Club, Eltham Hotel, Boundary Hotel, Shoppingtown Hotel and Furlan Club. Their attacks had become increasingly violent over time, resulting in 20 people being injured.
With police anticipating another robbery would take place soon, it was important to turn to the community for help before the group could strike again. The $100 000 reward was offered after the police had made several unsuccessful attempts to track down the group of criminals, and it seems that they could not have gone about it on their own without the help of the community.
While the authorities have not published any further information on the arrests, we can gather that a local resident dropped a hint that led them to the bandits. It was imperative that the local authorities caught the individuals involved in the robberies, as they were not only stealing from pokies operators but also the community. Pokies are responsible for a large portion of funding for community groups, charities and initiatives.
As a result of the robberies, health, sports, arts and education programs would lose out on valuable funding that would allow them to funding in the local community. Pokies clubs are normally safe places where adults can spend a few hours with their friends, taking part in a typical pastime. Now that the threat of robberies of Victorian pokies venues has ended, operators and players can go back to their usual routines.
About the Author
