By ANEEKA SIMONIS
BLOODIED slabs were left strewn across the road as a man took off on a pushbike following a theft at a Pakenham bottle shop.
Police tape cordoned off the area surrounding Richies IGA in Main Street on Sunday morning after a man aged in his twenties entered the liquor storeroom and pinched two slabs of pre-mixed bourbon.
Police believe the theft happened between 7.30am and 8am on Sunday 9 May.
A staff member spotted the man sitting on a bench outside the store with the stolen slabs, but told police the man fled on a pushbike when the staff member went to confront him.
Blood was found at the scene which was later cordoned off with police tape.
Police received no reports of assaults in the area at the time and believe the man cut himself during the theft.
Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit’s (CIU) Detective Sergeant Phil Jury said a nearby delivery truck was found with its tyres slashed.
“The two incidents may be related,” he said.
Witnesses described the man as being short with a thin build, aged in his mid-twenties, wearing grey blue jeans and a black jacket.
He was riding a red and grey pushbike when he fled the scene.
It appears the same man may have gone on to steal from a second nearby liquor store moments later.
Between 8am and 8.45am on the same morning, the Beer Wine Spirits (BWS) store on Henry Road in Pakenham was burgled by a man of similar description.
Det Sgt Jury said the man forced open the store’s roller doors before getting inside to steal two slabs of pre-mixed whiskey.
The man fled after he was approached by a staff member.
Anyone with information about either incidents is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
