By Alesha Capone
A Tarneit father was robbed and assaulted in the street just two doors away from his home earlier this month.
The man – who asked to be referred to as “Mr Singh” – said he went for a walk about 5.15pm on August 12.
Mr Singh said he noticed a group of four youths sitting in a park while on his walk, but thought nothing of it – even when they began following him.
He said he returned to his street, Loretta Boulevard, about 7pm and the youths “suddenly” attacked him.
“I was just two doors away from my home, when one of the guys snatched the phone from my hand,” he said.
Mr Singh said he was hit in the face, pushed from behind and fell onto the footpath.
“All four started kicking and punching me,” he said.
“Blood was running down from my eyebrow.”
Mr Singh said the youths, who looked like they were aged between 14 and 16, ran away.
He said he went to the nearby home of a friend, who took him to the Wyndham North police station to report the crime.
Mr Singh later sought medical attention. The gash near his eye required three stitches.
His finger was also broken.
Neighbourhood Watch Tarneit Central spokesman Sanjay Sethi said people in the area were “angry and worried” about the frequency of robberies occurring in their suburb.
“People are saying, ‘How can we protect ourselves?’ ” Mr Sethi said.
“We are really concerned, as it could be anyone who becomes a victim.”
Senior Sergeant Matt Noy from the Wyndham Crime Investigation Unit said police were investigating the robbery.
Last week officers from the Wyndham CIU charged four teenagers with seven counts each of robbery and various deception charges, after a series of robberies in Tarneit, Truganina, Point Cook and Williams Landing on August 10. The charges were not in relation to Mr Singh’s attack.
Those charged included two 17-year-old boys, an 18-year-old man and a 19-year-old from Tarneit and Wyndham Vale.
“We’ve fairly quickly identified four offenders and are investigating any possible links between the offenders in custody and any other offending in Wyndham,” Senior Sergeant Matt Noy said.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
