THREE Point Cook men have been jailed after brandishing baseball bats, a vacuum-cleaner pole and a fake handgun during a string of armed robberies at western suburbs gaming venues.
Michael Kolio, 25, and brothers Pale and Iosefa Fiu, 21 and 23, smashed poker machines and threatened patrons when they robbed more than $13,000 from tills at Westmeadows, Point Cook and St Albans venues on July 16 last year.
In the County Court last month they were each sentenced to at least four years in jail over the “brazen” armed robberies.
At their first target, the Westmeadows Tavern, the trio broke a lock and smashed a glass panel to gain entry about 10.30am. The court heard Iosefa Fiu swung a machete across the bar, smashing bottles and terrifying patrons and staff. They forced the cashier to hand over $6045 cash.
Later that day, they went to the Brook on Sneydes hotel in Point Cook and stormed into the gaming area about 8pm. Kolio pointed a handgun at the counter staff, stealing $2100, while the others threatened to belt patrons with baseball bats.
At 9.30pm, at the St Albans Sports Club, the trio used an axe to smash the window of the smokers’ area.
The court was told a large number of patrons were at the venue and some were sprayed with glass. More than $5000 was emptied from the till and the incident caused about $30,000 damage. The group returned to the Westmeadows Tavern on August 2, about 10.15pm, where they smashed four poker machines and stole patrons’ wallets and about $360 cash.
A police surveillance operation soon identified the three men and raided a Point Cook house on August 16. The three were arrested and made admissions. Their explanation for offending was that they needed money to repay drug debts and fund methamphetamine habits.
