Crime catcher commended

By Sarah Schwager
A LYNBROOK man has received an award for his work in chasing down and helping police catch a criminal.
In August last year, Christopher Cicciarelli was working at Safeway in Cranbourne North when he heard screams from the woman working at the Safeway Liquor store and a security call that the store had been robbed.
He said he did not think twice before jumping the counter and followed the offender to his getaway car, writing down the man’s details, a description of the car and the car’s registration number on his hand.
He then returned to the store and assisted the victim, who had been threatened with a knife.
As a direct result of his actions and the information supplied to the police, the man was identified, arrested and charged in relation to six armed robberies and other drug related offences.
He was caught within five hours of the Safeway robbery.
Mr Cicciarelli, 23, was last Friday awarded a Victoria Police Citizen’s Commendation for his help in apprehending an armed robber.
“I just went into auto pilot. I stayed a couple of metres behind him because you never know what they’ve got. It turned out he was armed with a knife,” he said.
He said Safeway staff were very overwhelmed at his actions, congratulating and thanking him.
“They also said I was very lucky due to the fact that he had a knife. I was just stunned. I had no idea he was armed.”
The man had stolen $800 cash and alcohol from the Safeway store on the corner of Thompsons Road and South Gippsland Highway.
While police believed the car he was driving was stolen, he had left the original plates on and had kept driving the car that night.
About two weeks ago, Mr Cicciarelli received notification from the Victoria Police that he was to be awarded the commendation at the Police Academy in Glen Waverley.
“I saw the letter and thought it was a speeding fine or something,” he said.
He said he had no idea he would be awarded for his actions.
“I was speechless. I just did what any normal person would do in that situation,” he said.
Mr Cicciarelli said his family had been shocked when they first heard of him chasing an armed robber but were now really proud about him getting the award.