Knife bandit strikes again

POLICE believe the same man is responsible for a string of armed robberies in Narre Warren, Pakenham and Dandenong.
Last Thursday, about 3.20pm, the man entered Coles Liquor Land at Fountain Gate shopping centre in Narre Warren. He selected a bottle of Jack Daniels bourbon and then approached the counter and selected a carton of cigarettes. Police said the man then produced a knife and demanded cash from the till, before leaving the store with the money and alcohol.
On Sunday, at 1.20pm, police said the same man entered the Smokemart and Giftshop in the Dandenong Plaza Shopping Centre.
He requested a few items including cigarettes from the 22-year-old shop attendant. After the attendant put the items in a plastic bag, the man allegedly produced a knife and demanded money.
The attendant was unable to open the cash till and the man took the plastic bag and ran from the store.
Twenty minutes later police believe the man then entered the Safeway liquor store at Webb Street in Narre Warren, where he selected some cans of alcohol. While the attendant had the till open he produced a knife and demanded money, then left on foot with the cash and alcohol.
Police believe the same man robbed the Safeway liq-uor store at John Street, Pakenham, at about 8.55pm on Friday, 7 July.
Police described the man as Caucasian, aged in his late 20s, about 175cm tall, of a thin build and with light spiky hair. He was clean-shaven at the time and wearing a blue top with dark coloured tracksuit pants.
Detective Senior Constable Gary Richards at the Frankston Embona Task Force urged the public to help them identify the man.
He said police believed that he would continue to commit further offences and that the man could injure someone in a future raid.
Any information can be forwarded to Detective Senior Constable Gary Richards at the Frankston Embona Task Force on 9784 5542 or to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.