Police hunt trio after random attack on man at Lake Woodcroft

A man has undergone surgery for stab wounds after he was attacked by three people in Woodcroft today. Police have launched a manhunt to find those responsible for the ‘brazen’ attack.

Blacktown Police search Lake Woodcroft for evidence after a group of men stabbed a man in a botched robbery on December 2. Picture: Dean Asher

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Police have launched a manhunt after a man was stabbed while walking to the gym in a botched robbery in Woodcroft this morning.

The 24-year-old man was walking at Lake Woodcroft when he was approached by three men near the local community centre at about 5am, police say.

The trio demanded the man hand over his wallet and mobile phone before he was stabbed four times in the back.

The trio fled the scene and despite the man’s serious injuries, he managed to walk more than a kilometre to a McDonald’s restaurant on Richmond Rd and ask for help.

A 24-year-old man is recovering in hospital after he was stabbed multiple times in the back at Lake Woodcroft on Monday morning. Picture: Dean Asher

Staff contacted emergency crews who then treated the man at a restaurant before he was taken to Westmead Hospital with stab wounds and a punctured lung.

He is said to be in a stable condition recovering from surgery.

Blacktown Police Superintendent Steve Egginton said the attack did not appear to be targeted.

“It’s pretty brazen and bold behaviour from a number of offenders in that situation,” Superintendent Egginton said.

“A lot of our hardworking detectives are doing a lot of work at the moment to get to the bottom of it.”

Police at Lake Woodcroft after a group of men stabbed a man as he walked to the gym at 5am on Monday. Picture: Dean Asher

He said the stabbing appeared to be an isolated incident.

“Often these things are opportunistic. It can be the case that offenders come across victims in circumstances where they are isolated in some respect and they take advantage of that,” he said.

“It’s not something we’ve seen with a similar modus operandi. It’s somewhat unique in that respect.”

The 24-year-old man sought help at a nearby McDonald’s after he was stabbed four times in the back. Picture: Dean Asher

Detectives are scouring through CCTV footage as they try to identify the group of men responsible.

Anyone who was in the area at the time or has dashcam footage is urged to contact Blacktown Police or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.