Milk bar owner refuses to let go of thug during violent cigarette robbery

A Melbourne milk bar owner has been filmed bravely fighting off a gang of cigarette robbers in the city’s north.

CCTV shows the moment the four hooded thugs burst through the door of Xing Ming Lin’s Preston shop about 9pm.

The first offender can be seen lunging at Mr Lin with a wooden mallet, while two others jump the counter and kick the 54-year-old in the head.

Hearing the commotion, the owner’s 31-year-old son Ben joins the fray wielding a baseball bat, but is hit with a metal basket.

After stuffing their bags with cigarettes, the gang prepares to flee, but Mr Lin latches onto one of his attackers and refuses to let go.

Minutes later, police arrived at the scene and the 17-year-old was arrested.

"(This) attack is horrific, they have absolutely no regard for the impact they have on these community members," Acting Detective Sergeant Liz Fenn-Wallace said.

The alleged offender has been charged with armed robbery, intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury, and unlawful assault.

He will appear at a children’s court next week.

Mr Lin was taken to hospital with a broken nose, and has since been released.

Despite the ordeal, he and his wife decided to keep their business, which they’ve run for a decade, open today.

Investigators continue to search for the three robbers involved in the incident, who fled in a white sedan parked around the corner from the milk bar.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

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