Robberies On Rainbow Hill In Worcester – Witness Appeal

Police in Worcester are appealing for information about two separate robberies on Rainbow Hill which officers believe may be linked.

The first incident happened on Sunday, 22 January at around 9.45pm near the top of the hill.

The male victim was walking to Shrub Hill railway station when he was punched numerous times to the back of the head, causing him to fall to the ground. When he was on the ground, he saw that two men were assaulting him.

The offenders then asked the victim to hand over his mobile phone - a Huwei Blaze phone - before taking it and leaving in the direction of Brickfields Road. 

The first offender is described as white, aged around 18 years old, 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins tall, of a slim build with slim facial features and he was wearing a black jacket. The second offender is described as white, aged around 18 years old, 5ft 10ins, of a large build, with brown short hair and he was wearing a grey hooded top. Both are described as having local accents. 

The second robbery took place on Saturday, 28 January between 8.45pm and 9.05pm when a man had his mobile phone and bicycle stolen from him after being punched to the head and stomach.

The victim was cycling up Rainbow Hill when two men near the top of the hill asked him to stop. As he slowed down, the first man punched the victim, causing him to come off his bicycle. The second man then put the victim in a headlock which caused him to drop his mobile phone. Both men then continued to assault the victim, before taking his phone and bicycle and walking off towards Vicar Street.

The stolen bicycle is a distinctive ‘X-Rated' BMX. It has lime green pedals, black handle bars, black seat and a white frame with an ‘X-Rated' logo sticker across it. The phone is an LG Cookie in silver which has no back to it and is scratched.

The first offender is described as being white, aged 16 to 20, 5ft 6ins to 5ft 10ins tall, of a very slim build, with short blonde hair. He was wearing dark blue denim jeans, a dark-coloured coat with a hood, which is described as a shiny, lightweight sports jacket and a dark baseball cap.

The second offender is described as being white, aged 16 to 23, 5ft 8ins to 5ft 9ins tall and of a large, stocky build with a round face. He was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a hooded top.

Detective Constable Zoey Carter from Worcester police station said: "These were both totally unprovoked attacks where the offenders have subjected their victims to rather nasty assaults in order to steal a few relatively inexpensive items.

"We are linking these robberies to each other due to the similarities in the descriptions of the offenders and the location of the incidents.

"I would appeal to anyone who knows the whereabouts of the stolen items, saw either of the incidents happen or recognises the offenders from the descriptions given to contact us as soon as they can."

Anyone with information about this incident can call DC Carter on 0300 333 3000, quoting 678S 280112 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Issued: Thursday, 02 February 2012