A 39-year-old Rye man has been charged with armed robbery after allegedly threatening an 80-year-old woman milk bar attendant with what appeared to be a shotgun.

The gun was later found to be an imitation.

The man is also facing seven counts of burglary and two of theft from cars in the Rosebud area over the past few weeks.

He allegedly pointed what was thought to be a sawn-off shotgun at the woman at the Melbourne Rd milk bar about 4pm on Sunday 14 June.

The woman told police the man ran around the counter and forced her to open the till, escaping with $400.

Detective Sergeant Nick Vallas, of Mornington police, said it would be alleged the gun was found when the man was arrested during a raid on a house in Woomera St, Rye, early on Thursday morning.

The arrest was made after Detective Leading Senior Constable Deb Seymour, of Mornington police, thought she recognised a possible suspect and his car while viewing CCTV footage of robberies at Rosebud stores, a doctor’s surgery and offices.

She was later granted a warrant to search his home for stolen goods.

The man faced Frankston Magistrates’ Court the same day and was remanded to appear at a later date.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 23 June 2015