Cops say robbers fled to Sydney after shooting Melbourne man in leg
Three balaclava-clad thieves who smashed their way into a Melbourne home and demanded cash before shooting a man in the leg are thought to have fled to Sydney in the days after the terrifying early-morning home invasion.
Eight months after the incident, police have released images of two cars and a man they believe are connected to the aggravated burglary and shooting on June 10 last year.
Some of the images released by police.Credit:Victoria Police
The 53-year-old victim was at his home on Cornish Road in Emerald with two women aged in their 20s when the three men in dark clothing and balaclavas broke in about 4.30am.
They threatened the residents with a gun and demanded cash before one of the men shot the victim in the leg. He was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries and has since told police he does not know the offenders.
After the home invasion, police believe the three offenders drove off in a white Kia Sorrento with fake number plates. It was seen later that morning travelling inbound on the Monash Freeway, with a second vehicle – a grey Mitsubishi Outlander – driving closely behind.
Detectives from the armed crime squad on Thursday released images and CCTV footage of the two vehicles.
A grey Mitsubishi similar to the one police are looking for. Credit:Victoria Police
The two cars drove north on the Hume Highway, believed to be heading to Sydney.
The Kia was spotted two days later in Goulburn, in NSW, where the man in the car allegedly stole petrol about midday on June 12.
They have also released an image of a man who was with the Kia at the time of the petrol drive-off in Goulburn.
Anyone who saw the cars travelling north is urged to contact police, who are keen to determine the route the offenders took that day.
The home in Emerald where the man was shot.Credit:Justin McManus
Armed Crime Squad acting inspector Paul Lloyd said they are confident someone knows who is responsible for the shooting.
“We do believe this was a targeted attack, however the victim did not know the offenders so we’re keen to try and determine why the shooting has occurred and what the motivations were,” he said.
“There will be people out there who know exactly why this shooting occurred and who is responsible and we’d like to speak to those people.
“Any incident involving a firearm is extremely concerning to us and is of course alarming for the victims.
Police at the scene of the shooting in Emerald last June. Credit:Justin McManus
“They are extremely lucky that the injuries weren’t more serious or even fatal.”
The Age revealed last week that more than 14 hardened criminals are being found in possession of firearms each week as the state grapples with a rising gun culture that has led to twice as many Victorians shot dead in 2019.
Fifty-two people were shot and 14 fatally gunned down across the state last year, twice as many as the previous 12 months, with handguns increasingly used by criminals to settle drug debts or underworld disputes.
Senior police have warned that innocent people could be hurt as fluid, armed criminal networks work together to carry out violent crimes in the city's north-west.
Anyone with information or who recognises either of the vehicles is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au