The Bottle-O Warehouse in Shepparton has been forced to close its doors for two days after a spate of burglaries.
The store was targeted by a pair of offenders on Sunday morning and again yesterday, with a note taped to the front door yesterday informing the community.
The note stated the store would be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to “events beyond our control”, apologising to customers for the inconvenience caused.
Shepparton police Detective Sergeant Paul Shortis confirmed officers had identified the two offenders and were working yesterday to locate them.
“We’ve identified who the males are and we are actively seeking to arrest them,” he said.
Det Sgt Shortis said the offenders were believed to have assaulted a security guard outside the store yesterday morning.
He said a male security guard was sitting in a vehicle parked in the Bottle-O Warehouse car park around 12.20 am yesterday when he was approached by two male teenagers.
Det Sgt Shortis said the teenagers verbally abused the security guard before seriously assaulting him by punching him and throwing rocks through the window of the vehicle before fleeing on foot.
It is understood the man sustained a broken nose and bruises.
“He’s suffered some injuries and was later treated at Goulburn Valley Health,” Det Sgt Shortis said.
“We believe they (the teenagers) probably attended to break in again, saw the security guard then seriously assaulted him.”
Det Sgt Shortis said police believed the teenagers also attended the Bottle-O Warehouse three days earlier on Sunday around 3.50 am.
He said the offenders smashed their way into the premises and stole a quantity of alcohol.
“They’re also believe to have committed a theft at Dan Murphy’s at 8 pm last night (Tuesday),” Det Sgt Shortis said.
“They entered the store, grabbed a quantity of alcohol and left without paying.”
While Det Sgt Shortis said police were unsuccessful at locating the teenagers as of yesterday afternoon, he confirmed police were continuing their efforts.
It is understood the store will reopen tomorrow for normal trade at 9 am.
“The staff have been traumatised and I believe that they’re receiving some counselling arranged by the Bottle-O,” Det Sgt Shortis said.
