Police are searching for an armed offender who targeted two service stations in Melbourne this morning.

Authorities said the offender stormed the 7-Eleven on Springvale Road in Springvale South just after 4.30am armed with a gun.

During second the robbery, the offender shot the shop attendant, aged in his 40s, in the elbow. He was taken to the Alfred Hospital, where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries and is in a stable condition.

The attendant was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.Picture: 9NEWS (9NEWS)

The offender fled the scene and is still on the run. Picture: 9NEWS (9NEWS)

It's believed the offender fled without cash in an unknown direction.

Investigators have now revealed the incident was connected to an earlier foiled armed robbery, which occurred at a nearby service station on Heatherton Road less than 15 minutes before the Springvale Road robbery.

The service attendant at Heatherton Road robbery told 9NEWS he was mopping the bathrooms when he heard a brick thrown through the front window.

The offender, armed with a silver handgun, threw a brick through the glass entrance and stormed the shop.

Security vision showed the panicked staffer running for his life, waving down cars for help as the would-be robber tries and fails to open the till.

CCTV captured the terrified staffer running for help during the foiled robbery. Picture: 9NEWS (9NEWS)

The attendant was shot in the elbow during the botched robbery. Picture: 9NEWS (9NEWS)

He fled in a van with a grey-coloured bottom and white top. He is described as being 180 centimetres tall, and was last seen wearing a light-coloured hoodie, black tracksuit pants, and was wearing a beanie and bandana across his face.

“It’s an extremely serious event, and has caused serious concern,” Inspector Michael Daly said.

“But we can assure the community that police are doing everything they can.”