A WERRIBEE man who thwarted an armed robbery with a vacuum cleaner didn’t hesitate to protect his family after his milk bar came under attack by two robbers for the fifth time in three years.
“This time they had a gun, but before they only had the knives,” said Hai Milk Bar owner Sam Wang.
When the bandits entered the Market Rd convenience store near Cottrell St on Saturday 25 February at about 7.45pm, one of the two men jumped on the counter and demanded cash from Mr Wang’s wife Crystal, while the other man held the door open.
“My wife was at the counter and my son Wilson is only five-and-a-half,” he said.
Mr Wang was in their home, which is part of the store and is located at the rear of the premises.
He heard his wife screaming and ran to her rescue grabbing a metal vacuum cleaner tube on his way to the counter.
“My wife was scared, very scared,” Mr Wang said.
“I put my wife behind my back and then that guy already put the gun to my head.”
He said it was strange because the man, whose face was covered, wouldn’t say anything, except “gun, gun, gun.”
“His hand holding the gun, I pushed the hand,” he said. “And then I pushed him out the way of the counter, I didn’t have time to think otherwise, you know,” he said.
“I could only think one thing, to protect my family and wife, that’s all.”
Werribee Police Detective Sergeant Dennis Williams said that while Mr Wang was “courageous”, the police don’t encourage people taking on confronters in case it caused them serious injury.
If you have any information call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.