Broad daylight robbery at Melbourne CBD clothing store shocks onlookers

A woman robbed a clothing shop in Melbourne's central business district in broad daylight on Saturday, forcing her way back inside after staff locked the doors and making off with thousands of dollars' worth of apparel, according to Victoria Police. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. on Elizabeth Street, with two staff members inside the store at the time. The offender entered the premises armed with a dangerous article and assaulted a female staff member, causing non-life-threatening injuries.

Video of the break-in circulated on social media, showing the woman kicking in the door, pushing through the glass, and taking clothing from shelves as a crowd watched. The staff member sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene. The footage sparked a mixed response online, with some onlookers lamenting the act and others questioning why no bystanders intervened to stop the theft.

'It's understood two staff members locked the doors at a retail premises after a female attempted to steal clothing about 3pm,' police said in a statement. 'The offender forced her way back inside armed with a dangerous article before she assaulted a female staff member.' The staff member sustained non-life-threatening injuries."

Witnesses described the tense scene as the suspect left the store with items in hand, passing by a crowd that captured video and photos on their phones. One passerby wrote online that bystanders stood by, while another noted the dangers of attempting to intervene. A former retail worker cited safety training that emphasizes avoiding direct confrontation with thieves to minimize the risk of harm to staff and customers.

Victoria Police said the investigation is active and ongoing and urged anyone with information to come forward. Law-enforcement officials will review dashcam and CCTV footage from the area and surrounding streets. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online.

The incident underscores ongoing concerns about public safety in Melbourne's CBD, where shopping districts attract heavy foot traffic and retail theft remains a recurring challenge for businesses and police. Police said there have been other incidents in the area, but no arrests had been reported in connection with Saturday's break-in as of late afternoon Sunday.