Staff at a Hobart convenience store say they fear for their safety after another alleged daylight robbery – the latest in a string of incidents at the Liverpool Street business.
An employee at American Convenience, who did not want to be named, told Pulse staff “do not feel safe anymore” and have been keeping a baseball bat behind the counter.
“Because every time it’s happened to us, we can’t do anything, because they’re teenagers,” he said, adding the shop would consider closing if the incidents continued.
“We’re so afraid to do business.”
The worker alleged four to five teenagers were involved in Wednesday’s incident. He said his manager was pushed and unable to defend himself.
“One of the teenagers came here … opened our till and took all the money,” he told Pulse.
“When they took all the money, they just ran away.”
Police said the incident happened around 3pm on Wednesday, when a 16-year-old and a 14-year-old allegedly stole cash from the store.
A staff member was assaulted and suffered minor injuries.
The 16-year-old has been charged with stealing with force, stealing and breaching bail, while the 14-year-old faces charges of stealing with force and stealing.
Both are due to appear in the Youth Justice Court in May.
Footage filmed from the Pulse newsroom on Liverpool Street shortly after the incident shows a group of young people walking along Criterion Street, with one seen flaunting cash and handing out notes.
The same teenager was also captured on CCTV obtained by Pulse, allegedly robbing the shop.
The worker said the incident had left staff anxious about coming to work, especially in the evening. “It’s obviously scary at night,” he said.
He called for a stronger police presence and said more needed to be done, but argued the law offered little deterrent because of their age.
The store has been repeatedly targeted since opening in 2023.
In November that year, four people armed with weapons stormed the store and stole cash and cigarettes.
In another incident, a 15-year-old held a knife to a staff member’s throat during a robbery, later avoiding a criminal record.
In November 2024, a teenager was arrested after causing more than $2,000 in damage.
The following month, four people were arrested following another aggravated robbery.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact them on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania anonymously, quoting OR802926.
