Bungled holdup
Tattoo a giveaway clue
A SERIAL armed robber fled empty-handed during a brazen holdup at a Geelong convenience store, a court has heard.
Reece Baensch was armed with a knife when he burst into the 7-Eleven outlet on the Bellarine Highway, Newcomb, about 7.40pm on September 24 last year.
The County Court in Melbourne heard a staff member fled in terror as Baensch waved the knife at his face and demanded money.
Baensch, 27, of Newcomb, pleaded guilty yesterday to a single charge of armed robbery.
The incident last year added to a growing rap sheet for Baensch, who has seven prior convictions for armed robberies. The previous offences each happened at convenience stores around Geelong between 2011 and 2015.
Court documents for the latest crime reveal the 7-Eleven worker was standing behind a counter when Baensch ran into the store and yelled: “Give me all your money.”
Baensch was brandishing a knife, which he held up to the victim in a threatening manner. The worker fled to a rear room and pressed a holdup alarm button.
Baensch used his knife to slash a wire barrier above the counter, before grabbing the cash register and fleeing the store on foot towards Coppards Rd. The court heard the cash register drawer was empty.
The armed holdup bore similarities to some of Baensch’s earlier offending and police tracked him down after security footage from inside the store captured a distinctive tattoo on his hand.
It also depicted him wearing distinctive Nike sneakers, which detectives located when they arrested Baensch three days after the incident.
Baensch will return to court for sentencing later.