Robbers target Willesden park twice in four days

Police are warning residents to be on their guard

Police are advising people not to walk through a Willesden park alone following two vicious robberies in four days.

The first victim, a 33-year-old woman, was walking through Gladstone Park on July 16 when a man approached her, demanded she handed over her bag and coshed her over the head.

He fled with her bag towards the tennis courts in the park.

As it had been raining earlier there were few people around when the robbery took place at 2.30pm.

Four days later, a 34-year-old man was approached by three men who wrestled him to the ground before punching and kicking him.

They rifled through his pockets and stole his wallet and phone after forcing him to give them the pin number for his bankcard.

He lost a tooth in the attack and was treated for a swollen nose.

The suspect in the first attack is black, medium build, around 5ft 10 in tall with short tidy hair.

Two of the men in the second attack are black and the third is Asian.

Detective Daniela Biagini from the Brent Police is urging residents to be alert and extra vigilant whilst walking through park and preferably not walk through it alone.

She added: “I would like to remind members of the public to stick to well lit main routes and be aware of your surroundings at all times.”

“I am appealing for anyone with any information to call 020 8733 3227 or crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”