Monash University international students targeted in wave of street attacks
Cowardly groups of thieves are terrorising vulnerable students with brutal bashings and knifepoint robberies in a wave of terrifying street attacks plaguing Melbourne universities.
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International students are being robbed and bashed in a brutal wave of street attacks plaguing eastern suburban Melbourne.
Monash University students, many of them from China, are among those being terrorised by cowardly groups of thieves who typically zero in on the victims when they are alone.
Police have received reports of 13 holdups over 18 days, but the Herald Sun is also aware of other victims who have not made a report.
Mobile devices, backpacks, wallets and credit cards have been stolen.
In some cases, those being preyed upon have been assaulted even after handing over their possessions.
Most of the ambushes have happened in the Clayton area, near Monash University. But robberies that police suspect involve the same thugs have also been carried out in the suburbs of Burwood, Mulgrave, Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley, Box Hill and Oakleigh.
Eastern region police have raided premises in southeastern suburbs and made arrests over muggings committed between April 25 and May 12.
But officers say some offenders are still on the loose. They are chasing suspects they describe as being of African appearance.
The age of victims has ranged from as young as 19 to as old as 55.
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said police would be “relentless” in pursuing offenders, and wouldn’t stop until all had been caught.
Chinese student Kuan Gao, 19, said he had been robbed of his iPhone and wallet while walking along a lane near Monash University in Clayton on the night of April 18.
“Three black men very silently ran to me and suddenly took away my phone,” Mr Gao said.
Mr Gao said: “They said very urgently: ‘Give us your wallet.’ In the meantime, one guy asked me to reset my iPhone settings. I knew they were going to rob me.
“I can’t run, given that they blocked my way and the road we were on is too long and closed,” Mr Gao said.
A sign at the entrance of the laneway reads: “Warning: Take care when walking through laneway. There have been several incidents of assault and burglaries.”
Mr Gao said: “It’s a very dangerous alley, but I had to pass it to reach home. I no longer walk alone late at night. I call Uber because I know Uber costs less given that the risk of getting robbed on that road at night is very high, and the losses are too much.”
Another foreign student said online that he had been robbed near the campus a month before: “Took my brand new iPhone XR, wallet, jacket and T-shirt. (I was) mugged at knifepoint. It’s shattering.”
Mr Weir said: “We will continue to increase our presence, and patrols in these areas.
“We are doing everything we can to ensure the victims’ welfare is looked after, including ensuring they have access to support if they need it. One victim is one too many.”
He said Melbourne was a safe city, and only a few offenders were committing the robberies. He said the force was offering councils, businesses and schools advice and crime prevention information.
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Monash University told the Herald Sun the robberies were outside campuses, which had CCTV, electronic building access, alarm technology and 24/7 security patrols, but students who had become “unfortunate victims of crime” had been offered counselling.
Students could also have security escorts to their cars, public transport or nearby colleges, or be dropped home by security buses if they live within 2km of the Caulfield or Clayton campuses.
LIST OF INCIDENTS
■ Fregon Reserve, Browns Road on 25 April. The victim was a 30-year-old male from Clayton
■ Stockdale Avenue, Clayton on 1 May. The victim was a 21-year-old woman from Clayton
■ Panorama Street, Clayton on 1 May. The victim was a 23-year-old male from Clayton.
■ Police Road, Mulgrave on 1 May. The victim was a 55-year-old male from Mulgrave.
■ Dandenong Road, Clayton on 1 May. The victim was a 23-year-old male from Clayton.
■ Burwood Highway, Burwood on 2 May. Victim was a 24-year-old male.
■ Huntingdale Road, Mount Waverley on 2 May. Victim was a 20-year-old.
■ Pindari Street, Glen Waverley on 4 May. Victim was a 21-year-old female.
■ Arnott Street, Clayton on 5 May. Victim was a 22-year-old male.
■ Kent Road, Box Hill on 5 May. Victim was a 26-year-old male.
■ Fregon Reserve, Browns Road, Clayton on 6 May. Victim was a 35-year-old male.
■ Kingsway, Glen Waverley on 8 May. Victim was a 26-year-old woman.
■ Dandenong Road, Oakleigh on 12 May. Victim was a 49-year-old male.