Police appeal - Police are asking the public to be vigilant and appealing for information following Finsbury Park robberies

Police are asking the public to be vigilant and appealing for witnesses and information following several recent late night robberies in the grounds of Finsbury Park.

The most recent incident took place between about 0300 and 0330 hours on Saturday 15 October.

The victim, a 39 year-old man, was sitting on a bench in the park, near the running track, on the Manor Road side of the park, when he was approached by a group of about five or six youths.

The victim was told to empty his pockets and was hit over the head with a blunt metal object when he refused, causing a graze and swelling to his face.

The suspects are believed to have made off empty handed.

The victim made his way home to Hackney and called LAS who alerted police.

The victim was taken to an east London hospital and discharged later that morning.

The suspects are described as being male black youths, three aged in their late teens and two or three of younger appearance.

On Sunday 2 October at about 2200 hours a 19 year-old man was robbed of his watch and cash in Finsbury Park near the exit on Endymion Road. The suspects are described as being two black men aged about 20 to 25 years and wearing dark clothing.

On Saturday 8 October between about 0220 to 0230 hours a man in his 20s was robbed of his wallet phone and bag near the running track in Finsbury Park. The suspects are described as being two black men and two white men. One of the suspects is described as being a white man, approx 16-18 years old, athletic build, 5ft 9 inch to 5ft 11inch wearing a white tracksuit. The other suspects are described as being two black men and one other white man.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact DS Noel Stoddart of Haringey CID on 020 8345 0870 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Enquiries are ongoing.

Det Chief Inspector Lee Presland of Haringey CID said:

 

There are sensible precautions everybody can take to ensure their general safety whilst out and about:

= Think ahead and plan your journey, avoiding deserted areas.

= Avoid carrying valuables if you don't need them.

= Avoid walking alone at night, and keep to well-lit main roads where possible.

= Avoid short cuts like alleyways, waste ground and wooded, bushy areas.. If you do walk through a park ensure you stay on well-lit, main paths where there are other people around.

= If you regularly go jogging or cycling, try to vary your route and time.

= It is always worth letting someone know where you are going, the route you intend to take and when you expect to return.

= Try to avoid wearing headphones - your ability to hear traffic, strangers or potential trouble is severely restricted.

= Be vigilant, if you are using your mobile phone stay alert to those around you.

= If you have a personal attack alarm it should be carried in your hand to use immediately if necessary.

= If you think someone is following you, check by varying your route - more than once if necessary - to see if the person follows. If you are still worried, get to the nearest place where there are other people and call the police

= Stay alert: be aware of what's going on around you."There is currently no evidence to suggest that the incidents are linked, however, we are keeping an open mind. We are doing everything that we can to identify and apprehend the suspects and want to remind people using the park late at night to be alert and take some basic steps to ensure their personal safety. Local officers are aware of these offences and are directing their patrols to the area, however, if you do become a victim of robbery, I urge you to dial 999 immediately to enable police to provide an appropriate response."