Staff left terrified after armed robberies in Ballarat

Armed thieves have targeted two Ballarat businesses in separate robberies overnight.

Two masked offenders stormed the Sebastapol Bowling Club on Albert Street about midnight, with one carrying a machete and the other a metal pole.

As one thief watched over the venue’s security guard, the second snatched money from the cash drawers behind a counter.

The pair fled before police arrived.

No-one was injured in the incident, but the security guard and a female bar attendant said the thugs threatened them.

The manager of the bowling club, Rodney Beckwith, described the crime as “sad”.

“We all fear that something like this would happen, you don’t wish it on anyone,” Mr Beckwith told 9News.

The robbery came just hours after a Hungry Jacks outlet on the corner of Rubicon and Skipton streets, Redan, was targeted by a masked man.

Police said a female staffer was mopping the floor of the fast food joint when the offender told her to get behind the counter or she would be stabbed.

The victim has told detectives she saw an object with a silver handle in the man’s pocket, and believes it was a knife.

Another staffer handed the thief money, and he was last seen running east along Rubicon Street.

There were no injuries in the robbery.

Investigations into both incidents, which are not believed to be linked, are underway.