Gin theft sparks attack

Rockingham police have urged residents to come forward with information regarding an attack at a Warnbro liquor store which left a 55-year-old staff member with multiple facial injuries.

Grandfather-of-two and father-of-three Brian Kane said he did not expect the attack which happened at 8.20pm on Tuesday, January 28.

Mr Kane said his alleged attacker was in the store for a while before he grabbed three bottles of gin and fled the store.

“I watched to see where he headed, but he stopped and whacked me in the face with one of the bottles,” Mr Kane said.

“I didn’t see it coming and didn’t feel it. I just know I was on the ground bleeding.”

Mr Kane’s attack left him with a fractured skull, fractured eye socket, broken nose and crack to the roof of his mouth, which left his teeth numb.

He described the attack as “gutless” and “pathetic”.

“He could have easily killed me last night,” Mr Kane said.

“If he could do that over alcohol, what could he do over anything else?

“We need people like him off the street.”

The male who fled the scene was described between 25 and 30 years of age, 175cm to 180cm in height, dark-skinned, dark haired and wearing dark clothes.

Rockingham first class detective Jarrod Povah urged anyone with information to contact police.

“The incident appeared to be a shop lifting, but things quickly escalated into a violent manner,” he said.

“We feel someone may have seen something or recognise the male in the CCTV footage.”

Det. Povah warned the situation could have been worse.

“We recommend people don’t follow or approach those who steal something, but to call police,” he said.