Bottle shop + service station destroyed after armed thief was threatening a staff member

A COMBINED bottle shop and service station in the Perth Hills was destroyed after an alleged armed thief who was threatening a staff member was locked inside and set fire to the store overnight.

A 24-year-old man was arrested following the incident at the Canning Road store in Karagullen at about 7.40pm on Friday.

Police say the man entered the liquor store and allegedly stole some alcohol, walking out of the shop and placing the stolen booze in a vehicle.

 

He then moved the vehicle to a fuel pump at the same premises and attempted to use it, but the store operator denied it.

“The man then walked into the store and allegedly threatened the store person with a knife,” a police spokesman said.

“It is further alleged the man attempted to obtain the victims phone and car keys.”

Police say the victim, a 22-year-old man, fled outside with a customer and they locked the man in the store and called police.

“Whilst this happened the man allegedly damaged the shop and set fire to items within the store,” the spokesman said.

The fire was extinguished but the man and the police officers who arrested him all suffered smoke inhalation.

The building was destroyed in the fire.

Police will further allege the man stole a BMW station wagon during a burglary at a Kewdale home on Friday about 5.30pm before driving to Rivervale and stealing items from a delivery driver parked outside a Surrey Road address.

His alleged crime spree culminated about an hour later at the Karagullen store.

The 24-year-old has been charged with a string of offences, including criminal damage by fire, armed robbery, stealing, home burglary and stealing a motor vehicle. He will appear in Perth Magistrates Court at a later date.

Source: KarraBottle shop service station destroyed by fire | Perth Now