By Sarah Schwager
POLICE are investigating armed robbery attempts on three Cranbourne milk bars on Sunday night which they believe are linked.
About 7.30pm, two men entered a milk bar in Clairmont Avenue, Cranbourne, and threatened the shopkeeper with knives and made demands for money.
When their demands were refused they fled the store.
About 15 minutes later, two men, one armed with a knife, entered a store in Cranbourne Place.
After making demands for cash, the men were confronted by the shopkeepers and fled without taking anything.
Closer to 8pm, two men, one armed with a knife and the other with a tree branch, entered a milk bar in Clarendon Street and again made demands for cash.
When the shopkeepers confronted them, they fled from the store, again without taking anything.
No-one was injured in the incidents.
The first man was described as between 16 and 18 years old, Caucasian, 170 to 175cm tall, of thin build, wearing a black hooded top with a Nike logo on the back.
The second man was also about 16 to 18 years old, Caucasian, 165 to 170cm tall, thin build, and wearing a black beanie, surf-style collared shirt and long, white sleeved top underneath.
In an unrelated incident, police are searching for a teenage girl following a recent hold-up at a Hampton Park store.
The girl, believed to be 16 to 17 years old, entered the Somerville Road Convenience Store at 8.50am on Sunday, 13 August.
Once in the store she produced a knife and demanded cash from the lone male staff member.
In fear of his life, the man produced an amount of cash and handed it to the offender, who then fled.
The girl is described as Caucasian, medium build, wearing a dark hooded top and beige shorts.
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact Detective Senior Constable Phillip Ross at Frankston Embona Armed Robbery Taskforce on 9784 5543 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
