By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A MAN was hit with a wrench and had his car stolen in a harrowing group attack after he pulled over in Noble Park this month.
It’s one of two Greater Dandenong armed robberies 24 hours apart which are being investigated by the Embona Taskforce.
In the first incident the victim parked his car outside a Noble Park milk bar near the intersection of Yarraman Road and Charnfield Crescent, about 9pm on Monday 5 October, when he was set upon by four men who demanded his car keys.
One of the men hit him with a wrench and took his keys before fleeing in the victim’s black Range Rover.
The rest of the attackers fled in a light-coloured Camry, the same car the group had arrived in.
The victim, who it’s believed stopped to enter the closed milk bar, had his arm injured in the attack but didn’t need hospital attention.
The four attackers are all described as being Asian in appearance.
It was followed on Tuesday 6 October by another armed robbery, this time in Springvale South, where a man was threatened with a hunting knife.
The man was walking along Olympic Avenue, about 9.30pm, when two men came out of the adjacent Burden Park, one wielding a large hunting knife, and approached the victim demanding his backpack.
The men took the backpack which contained several electrical items and fled back into the park.
The victim was uninjured in the confrontation.
Both men were described as teenagers and of Pacific Islander appearance.
Detective Sergeant Ivan Bobetic, from the Embona Taskforce, cautioned people who walked after nightfall.
“We always encourage people to not walk by themselves, particularly after dark,” he said.
“If you are going to walk, try to limit yourself to well-lit areas.”
Any witnesses to either incident are urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.vic.gov.au
