Bicycle bandit

POLICE are searching for a man who punched and kicked a woman in Cranbourne last week after he tried to rob her.
The 32-year-old Cranbourne woman was walking west along Latrobe Street near the Cranbourne Railway Station when a man aged about 18 rode his bicycle up alongside her. He asked her for a cigarette then grabbed her backpack, which was slung over her shoulder.
She hung on to the bag and the man flung her around into the front wheel.
He then punched her to the stomach, kicked her in the leg and pulled her by the hair and she hit her head on the footpath.
He then got back on his bike and rode off along the South Gippsland Highway.
The woman received swelling to her right cheek, a cut to her right eyebrow and bruising to her leg.
The suspect was described as about 18 years old, Caucasian, with blond shaggy hair, brown eyes, acne and wearing a black hooded windcheater.
Any witnesses are urged to contact Detective Senior Constable Pete Carroll at Cranbourne CIU on 5991 0661.