Picture triggers robbery

Victim’s morning hook-up goes wrong

A MAN was allegedly marched down an Ocean Grove street at gunpoint before being robbed in an incident believed to have been sparked by a photo of a penis.

Four people were arrested this week in connection to the alleged incident on May 3.

Christopher Tolj, 27, Shaun Baensch, 25, and Danielle Misiti, 31, have each been charged with armed robbery.

A 28-year-old woman has been pending inquiries.

Details of the

Leopold released alleged offending were aired in Geelong Magistrates’ Court as Mr Tolj and Mr Baensch applied for bail.

Geelong CIU detective Senior Constable David Baskin said the four had been at a Grovedale home when the alleged victim sent a message to Ms Misiti.

The message — sent via the Skout dating app — contained a picture of the man’s penis and an invitation to meet up.

Sen-Constable Baskin said

Mr Tolj took offence and arranged a meeting with the man in Ocean Grove.

The quartet then went to the Ocean Grove Hotel carpark, arriving about 4.45am, when Mr Tolj and Mr Baensch allegedly exited the vehicle before the man’s arrival.

The court heard they hid while Ms Misiti called the alleged victim.

The detective said she then performed a U-turn while Mr Tolj and Mr Baensch ran at the man brandishing weapons.

He said Mr Tolj pointed a longarm rifle at the victim, while Mr Baensch was armed with a garden stake.

It is alleged Mr Tolj said to the man: “Do you like creeping out girls online, do you? I’ll f--ing shoot you. Do you think I’m going to give a f---?”

Sen-Constable Baskin said the victim was then marched to his home where an iPhone 8 and $10 cash were stolen.

He said the group drove back to Grovedale, while the man went to a neighbour’s property and called police.

Mr Tolj was arrested on Wednesday at his home in Wandana Heights, while Mr Baensch was taken into custody at his parents’ property in Belmont.

The court heard they had made admissions to robbing the man, however Mr Tolj has denied being armed.

They were granted bail despite police concerns about their risk to the community.

Magistrate Simon Guthrie chose to release the men due to factors including their age, the likelihood of delay and the availability of stable addresses.

Mr Tolj was bailed to his father’s home in Port Melbourne, with strict conditions including a $20,000 surety and a ban on entering the City of Greater Geelong.

The men will return to court on August 7.

Ms Misiti was charged and bailed by police.

The Grovedale woman is due to face court for a filing hearing today.