By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
POLICE have warned Narre Warren residents to be on high alert when walking alone after three violent street robberies occurred within nine hours of each other.
The spate of robberies all happened on Friday 13 November where two of the victims were walking near Westfield Fountain Gate.
Mobile phones were targeted and taken at each attack.
Casey Crime Investigation Unit detective Senior Sergeant Rodney Maroney said late night transport users walking home from train stations or bus stops become “soft targets” for these sorts of crime.
“Once they have seen the phone in your hand and you walk off the main road they think I want that and that’s when most attacks occur,” Sen Sgt Maroney said.
In the string of robberies the first attack occurred at 2.45pm at the walkway near Prospect Hill Road footbridge.
Three males approached the two victims who were walking with one of their phones visible.
The offender tried to grab the phone out of the victim’s hand, the pair struggled before the offender threated to break the victims jaw if the phone wasn’t handed over.
The victim in the second incident was put into a headlock before their mobile phone was also taken on a bike track on Summerlea Road and the Monash Freeway at 3pm.
This time the victim was on their way to Fountain Gate when the male – described as in his late twenties wearing a light blue hoody and tracksuit pants – rushed at the victim from behind and fled with the mobile phone.
Just eight hours later the third attack happened at 11.30pm when a Foutain Gate staffer noticed he was being followed when he was walking back to his car after work.
Near Officeworks in the shopping centre car park the man tried to get away but was caught and punched in the face before handing his phone over.
The offender was described as a stocky Caucasian male wearing a black hoody with a blue logo, black baseball cap, basketball shorts and black shoes with white laces.
Sen Sgt Maroney said the police get a lot of these types of reports and recommended vigilance as well as the Find My Phone App.
“The Find my Phone App is a start and being a lot more conscious when in isolated areas off main roads and make sure to keep phones out of sight,” he said.
Anyone with any information on these three attacks is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
