Egged, punched, threatened with a machete: Residents in Melbourne's south targeted on Halloween
Residents in Melbourne's southern suburbs were assaulted, egged and threatened with a machete in a string of assaults on Halloween night.
Police believe the same group of violent offenders may have been behind six separate attacks that took place between 5.30pm Wednesday and 3.30am Thursday.
The first attack occurred on Coral Drive in Hampton Park.
According to police, a group of three men were walking along the footpath, when occupants of a white Volkswagen sedan - two men and two women - threw eggs at them about 5.30pm Wednesday.
When the pedestrians and occupants of the car got into an argument, one of the men got out of the car in nearby Pauline Court and punched a pedestrian in the head. The offenders then allegedly stole the phone and speaker of one of the victims and fled.
About seven hours later, just after midnight, a group in a white sedan approached two men on Osborne Street in South Yarra.
They proceeded to punch and kick one of the men before stealing his phone, keys and wallet. The victim, a Hawthorn man aged 41, was hospitalised with bruising and abrasions to the head.
An hour later, about 1.30am Thursday, a 45-year-old man was at the intersection of Blessington and Carlisle streets in St Kilda when three men in a Volkswagon sedan tackled him to the ground and kicked and punched him.
They fled west on Carlisle Street in the vehicle with the victim’s bag, which contained his phone.
The St Kilda victim sustained swelling and bruising to his head and torso.
Soon after 1.30am, a group arrived at a McDonalds restaurant on the corner of Jamieson Street and Nepean Highway in Cheltenham, and a man entered the restaurant wearing a mask and gloves.
He confronted staff and demanded cash before fleeing empty-handed, police said.
The fifth incident occurred about 3.25am at Colac Court in Patterson Lakes.
According to police, a woman was returning home when four or five offenders, one armed with a machete, threatened her before stealing her Volkswagon golf, registration 1BR4MW.
Two offenders fled in a white sedan. The victim was uninjured.
The sixth incident took place on Carlisle Street in the St Kilda area.
A 24-year-old woman was approached by three men around 3.30am in what was described as a light coloured sedan. The men demanded the victim's phone, stole it and drove away down Balaclava Road, police said.
A police spokesman said investigations are in their early stages but there was no initial indication the offenders were dressed up for Halloween.
The offenders are said to be of both Caucasian and African-Australian appearance.
Southern Metropolitan Regional crime team detectives are investigating to determine whether the same group of offenders are involved in all the incidents.
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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