[TheCruxofBag]

Terrified shoppers have been forced to hide in a shopping centre in Melbourne's west after a group of men smashed their way into a jewellery store.

Bystanders captured mobile footage of the moment the group damaged the storefront of Salera's, before stealing a large amount jewellery, putting it into bags and taking off.

Police said three men, who were wearing protective equipment, entered a shopping centre on Neale Road in Deer Park about 10.40am armed with sledgehammers and crowbars.

No one was injured during the armed robbery. The alleged offenders are believed to be of African appearance and were wearing white jumpsuits, police said.

[Xploit Machine]