Two years after a violent invasion that saw the owners of a Victorian pub nearly killed, police have issued a $350,000 reward for information.
Closing up their pub, the Mt Dandenong Hotel, around 2am on Saturday, 22 March 2014, Mark and Jenny were surprised by two masked men, who overpowered them and pushed their way into the hotel with the couple.
The bandits brutally beat the husband and wife, with Mark suffering a fractured eye socket and serious lacerations to his head, and Jenny suffering a fractured skull and lacerations. They both required hospital treatment.
The men wore gloves, and balaclavas over their heads. They did not speak and made no demands, and fled as they had entered, through the rear door, with cash, a wallet and some jewellery.
There was no CCTV footage of the attack, but the men were described as being of solid build, and wearing dark clothing.
After failing to locate the offenders, this morning Victoria Police announced a reward of up to $350,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the men responsible.
“This was a particularly violent and brutal crime,” said Detective Inspector Steve Clark of the Armed Crime Squad.
“We’re only one phone call away from solving this … there’s somebody out there who knows something about this.”
The owners of the Mt Dandenong Hotel declined to comment to PubTIC due to the ongoing police investigation.
Victoria Police note the reward is coupled with a ‘deed of confidentiality’ and says the DPP is able to consider indemnity from prosecution in appropriate cases for a person supplying information on such a matter.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
