PEOPLE have been warned not to walk alone at night in North Oxford after a fourth street robbery believed to be carried out by the same teenage gang.
Police are hunting four youths armed with screwdrivers and hammers driving about in a small blue hatchback car in the early hours of the morning preying on lone walkers.
They threaten to attack their victims before robbing them and driving away.
Three robberies happened in Jericho and Summertown in the early hours of Sunday and Monday.
Police are now linking a fourth attack on a 31-year-old man at the junction of Woodstock Road and Bladon Close at about 2.45am on Sunday.
Det Sgt Steve Raffield said: “All of them are unusual in as far as victims are approached by various members from a car.
“They have made threats but they have not been violent.
“But I am concerned we have got this amount in one particular area.
“We are putting a lot of resources into this and extra officers will be out on patrol. I’d advise people not to walk alone late at night just until we have resolved this.
“It is general common sense advice and you should take precaution walking around late at night in that particular area.
“We are looking for a group of kids aged around 18 to 20 years old driving round in a small blue hatchback.
“We want as much information as possible about that vehicle.”
The first robbery took place at 4am on Sunday when two men got out of a car armed with a screwdriver and stole a mobile phone and wallet from a 23-year-old man in Walton Street.
At 12.30am on Monday, a 19-year-old man was pushed up against a wall in Capel Close, in Summertown, by two youths who stole his wallet and mobile phone.
Then at 2am, a car pulled alongside a 28-year-old man in Woodstock Road, outside Russell Court, and two youths threatened him with hammers before stealing his wallet and mobile phone. Two other people were sitting in the car.
Police are now linking the gang with an attack at 2.45am on Sunday when a man was chased at the junction of Bladon Close and Woodstock Road. As he tried to flee, two people got out a car and grabbed him before stealing tobacco and a mobile phone.
Sgt Emma Garside, of North Oxford police, said: “We will be patrolling at times when these robberies have been occurring. This type of robbery is new to North Oxford and we would advise people if they are walking at night to walk with friends.”
The gang are described as of mixed race and in their late teens.
They were wearing dark clothing and had their faces covered.
Anyone with information should contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel