ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a series of incidents around Acton and the Australian National University campus last night (Thursday, February 18) and early this morning (Friday, February 19) in which a group of men damaged and broke into vehicles, and committed several assaults.
It is believed the group, comprising up to five men aged between 18 to 25 years, were responsible for a series of offences from around 10pm, when an IBM laptop and groceries were stolen from the front step of a flat in Acton.
This was followed by several incidents which police believed are linked to the same group including an assault on a male on the footpath on Barry Drive around 1am, damage to vehicles in carparks within the campus grounds, and around 3.40am near the Uni Lodge, another incident in which two males were threatened and robbed.
Police believe the same group of men may also have been responsible for the assault and robbery of a taxi driver around 3.30am on Parkes Way, near Ellenborough Street. The cab had earlier picked up four males from the rank in Alinga Street, Civic, and due to the passengers’ misbehaviour, has asked them to leave his vehicle and he has fully refunded the deposit paid on their fare.
The driver then noticed that his personal property, including two mobile phones and passport, had been stolen from the vehicle. A confrontation has ensued between the driver and passengers, in which the driver was knocked to the ground and assaulted. The offenders fled in the direction of the ANU campus.
Police are still examining evidence which may link the incidents above with the apprehension around 4am in an Acton carpark of a 19-year-old male allegedly found in possession of stolen property. Other males were seen fleeing the location on foot before the arrest was made.
Police would appeal for anyone who may have witnessed this group of males or may have been confronted by them in the Acton area overnight, or may have had property damaged or stolen and have not yet reported it, to contact Police Operations on 131-444 or to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anybody with any information about this crime or any other crime is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Report Crime Online.