Armed pair kidnaps driver

By Callan Date
A MAN was kidnapped by two armed assailants in Narre Warren North early on Sunday morning after he stopped his car to remove a bin deliberately placed in the middle of the road.
Police said the terrifying ordeal started about 1.15am when the local resident was driving his vehicle along Fontaine Close and noticed a bin and bicycle blocking his path.
About 30 minutes of sheer terror then started for the 45-year-old man after he stopped his car to get out and remove the obstacles.
After moving the items to the side of the road he was approached by two men who threatened him with different weapons.
Narre Warren Senior Detective Kevin Cooper said the assailants ordered the man back into his white Holden Commodore and then drove him a short distance to a rural location off Reservoir Road.
There he had his mobile phone, wallet and cash stolen before having his hands and feet cabled tied together. He was then dumped in bushland.
The man, who suffered a cut ear as well as minor injuries to his stomach, cheek and neck during the attack, managed to crawl to a house where the occupants called police.
The man’s car was located a short time later in near by Rockleigh Park Road.
Sen Det Cooper labeled the thieves as desperate and said the crime appeared totally random.
“Of major concern to us was the fact that a young girl was traveling alone in her car on the same street only a few minutes after the incident occurred.
“We don’t know what might have happened to her.”
He said police were investigating several leads including the attempted burglary of two houses in the same street where the man was kidnapped.
“We think they haven’t got what they wanted so they have gone after someone in a car,” Sen Det Cooper said.
He said Crime Scene Officers were going over the car in a search for clues.
Anyone with any information about the crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.