Melbourne sinks to new low as thieves hurl wine bottles at store worker in bungled robbery - before one loses both shoes during getaway

By AIDAN WONDRACZ, ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA Published: 01:18, 30 July 2026 | Updated: 01:21, 30 July 2026 Chaotic footage captured thieves hurling wine bottles and threatening a store worker before one of them lost their shoes while attempting to flee the failed robbery.  A 22-year-old staff member was working alone when he was confronted at Macauley Cellars in Kensington, inner west Melbourne, at 7.45pm on Sunday. CCTV footage showed two masked thieves sauntering into the store before one of them demanded the worker hand over alcohol. 'Do you have 196s? Go and get me a 24-pack. And get me a 10-pack of Vodka Cruisers. Now,' he demanded. 'If I have to come back here I'm burning down the store. Hurry up.'  The thief becomes worked up after the clerk disappears into the back and emerges empty-handed.  'Get me a f***ing 24-pack,' he yelled. 'Get me one, hurry up. Hurry up.'  Disturbing footage captured thieves hurling wine bottles and threatening a store worker before one of them lost their shoes while attempting to flee the failed robbery The thief picked up a display shelf from the counter and threw it at the worker, with bottles of alcohol smashing on the ground.  Both men took turns in hurling bottles of alcohol, sending them flying over the worker's head.  'Get me a f***ing packet,' one thief yelled. 'Get me a packet. Go! Get me one.' The store worker raised his hand as the thief picked up another wine bottle and threatened to throw it at him. He went on to throw one bottle after another before finally fleeing with his accomplice. A bystander attempted to intervene as the getaway driver pulled up in a stolen BMW with no plates. One of the thieves managed to get inside the vehicle, while the second thief told the driver to wait because he's lost his shoes. 'Hey, get out, I need my shoes, c***,' he said. 'Reverse'.  The thief picked up a display shelf off the front counter and flung it towards the worker, with bottles of alcohol smashing on the ground The manager of Macauley Cellars told news.com.au two masked thieves came in demanding alcohol and money. 'They wanted the spirits and our staff member refused. That's when they started throwing the bottles all around,' he said. 'When our staff member refused them, they got very mad. They trashed everything.' He said the failed robbery had shaken the staff member and that the store was forced to close for the day to clean up the mess. He said it was not the first time the store had been the target of robberies.  'In January, 2025, we had an ATM machine at the back and that machine was ram-raided,' he said. 'They broke in from the back. They had a chain wrapped around the ATM and they used a truck to drag it out. 'Things like the incident on Sunday, we have encountered many of them. I think it's happening more frequently, we hear from other bottle shops the same thing.' Victoria Police said a 16-year-old boy has since been arrested. He was charged with attempted robbery, criminal damage, discharge missile and throw missile.  The teenager was remanded to appear at a children’s court at a later date.  Officers are continuing to look for the second person involved in the failed robbery. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.