AN ARMED robber has demanded cash and threatened young staff with a tyre lever at a Wodonga KFC before fleeing with money.
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As Sunday night’s drama unfolded about 7.30pm, staff urged those inside the building to run.
A man had jumped the front counter and demanded cash and threatened to use the tyre lever on the staff members, raising the metal bar several times.
He went to several registers behind the counter and took cash over two to three minutes, including from the drive through window, before running out with money and items belonging to staff.
The man ran into a hire car being driven by an accomplice and left quickly fled the scene.
Two men of no fixed address were arrested in Wodonga about five hours after the incident and have been charged with armed robbery.
About 15 plain clothed and uniformed police officers returned to scour the nearby area with the SES on Monday morning in search of evidence.
About 10 staff had been working at the time and about six customers were inside the store.
The NSW hire car was seized by officers and taken to the Wodonga police station for forensic examination, and security footage was viewed by police.
Detective Sergeant Graeme Simpfendorfer said the incident would have had an impact on staff.
“There were a number of staff affected by the events of (Sunday) night and a number of patrons inside, which is quite disturbing,” he said.
“But everyone is getting the assistance and support they are needing at this time.
“It was a Sunday night.
“There were families in the store and staff so it’s quite disappointing to see.”
The search of the nearby area had been to locate items connected to the incident, he said.
Police searched vacant blocks of land, trees, bins and storm water drains looking for evidence.
Forensic officers also dusted for fingerprints at the store.
Detective Senior Constable Andrew Leonard said he was keen to speak to anyone who had left the fast food outlet as the incident was unfolding.
Police have already spoken to several people who had been inside at the time.
It’s the first time the restaurant, or any KFC restaurant, has been targeted in such a way in Wodonga.
Peter Warren Whyte, 30, and Jamie Philip Smith, 42, faced Wodonga Magistrates Court on Monday morning.
Neither man applied for bail and will return to court on September 17.
