Would-be thief targets 13-year-old

By Sarah Schwager
A WOULD-BE thief tried to take a bicycle from a Cranbourne boy as he walked his bike home from school last week after he had a flat tyre.
The 13-year-old boy was walking from Lyndhurst Secondary College along Huon Park Drive in Cranbourne North last Wednesday, 18 April.
He turned into the reserve laneway between Hollyhock and Cherryplum courts about 3.30pm when he noticed a man walking in the opposite direction.
The man stopped him and said he wanted his bike.
When the boy said no and started to walk away the man pulled him by the back of his schoolbag and pushed him to the ground, causing some injuries.
He then pulled him back up from the ground and punched him in the chest.
The boy protected himself and when the man released him, he managed to grab the bike and run off down Hollyhock Court.
The man was described as about 18 years old, Caucasian, with dark brown short hair and wearing a navy blue jacket with a plain black T-shirt underneath and three-quarter length jeans.
He also had a gold stud in his left ear.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Senior Constable Mel Colcott at Cranbourne CIU on 5991 0661.