A white ute links crimes in Evans Head and Ballina including multiple assaults and robberies in recent weeks.
In the first incident, about 5.30pm on Monday, October 31, a man, 58, was assaulted at Chinamans Beach carpark in Evans Head after arranging to meet a person he’d met online.
When he arrived at the carpark, the man was confronted by two men and dragged from his car before being repeatedly assaulted.
The men stole his car and left.
Emergency services arrived later and the man was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment.
On Saturday, November 5, a man, 77, was allegedly confronted and assaulted by four youths at Evans Head Skate Park after arranging to meet a person he’d met online.
The group then stole his car and left him unconscious.
He managed to call emergency services when he regained consciousness. He was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment.
The following day, Sunday, November 6, a man, 27, received serious injuries when he was assaulted by four men at a park on Elm Street in Evans Head.
The man believed he was meeting a woman he had spoken to online that day.
The group began smashing the man’s car.
The man fled to a nearby medical centre and called for help. He was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment.
On Saturday, November 12, two men – aged 53 and 50 – were assaulted in separate incidents by a group of youths in Ballina.
Each man had items stolen from him. Each was taken to Ballina Hospital for treatment.
The assaults are believed to be linked and police have released images of a white dual cab traytop ute as inquiries continue.
Police are urging anyone who has information to come forward.
The white traytop utility is believed to have been driven by the perpetrators.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information is treated in strict confidence.
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