Accused was ex-customer

Teen charged over milk bar robbery

A TEENAGER charged over an armed robbery at an Ocean Grove milk bar last week was caught because he and his father were regular customers at the outlet, a court has heard.

Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the traumatised owner of the Madeley St store identified Jake Fry, 18, as the robber who pulled a black gun from a tote bag and held it to her head.

The accused man’s father, Adam Fry, said he was shocked to hear his son implicated in the crime at a store he’d been a customer at for years.

“I didn’t think my son would be capable of armed robbery … in his own town,” Mr Fry said. “I didn’t think he’d be that silly.

“I feel horrified for the lady at Madeley St as well.”

Police allege the teenager was wearing sunglasses and a hat when he entered the store about 2.40pm on Thursday, November 29.

CCTV footage shown to magistrate John Lesser showed one of the two workers in the store dropped to the floor, putting her hands over her head when the robber pulled the gun and demanded money.

Unable to open the cash register, the thief stole a tray of tobacco and left the store.

The court heard the shop owner saw Adam Fry later that day, and told him she believed his son was the thief.

“The accused used to live in Ocean Grove near this milk bar. (The owner) estimates she’s seen him 30 or 40 times before,” Detective Senior Constable Sarah Lewis said.

The court heard the accused, who turned 18 in Au- gust, had been couch surfing after moving out of his parents’ home a month ago after descending into ice addiction this year.

“I’ve seen the downhill spiral … I need to get my son back,” Adam Fry said.

While the court heard police had been told the firearm used in the armed robbery was an imitation model painted black, this could not be verified as the weapon has not been recovered.

Magistrate John Lesser noted strong family support for the teenager, and his family’s desire to get him into detoxification and then drug rehabilitation programs.

He adjourned the bail application yesterday for a week, giving youth justice authorities more time to develop a detailed bail plan to cater for Jake Fry’s needs should he be released from custody.