A 20-year-old Coleambally man and his 19-year-old girlfriend from Wagga were walking along Willandra Avenue about 2am on Sunday following a night out when they were attacked by three men.

The attackers punched the man several times and stole his mobile phone along with his girlfriend’s handbag.

This latest incident comes one week after a similar attack against a 57-year-old Griffith man and his wife who were walking along Kookoora Street after a night out when they were assaulted by three men who snatched the wife’s handbag and ran off. 

Police have refused to rule out a link between the two attacks, noting the similar location, victims and description of the attackers. 

Mayor John Dal Broi said it was a sad indictment on this day and age when people had to be wary of attack on their walk home at night. 

“It’s very disturbing that these ‘heroes’ – that’s the nicest thing I can call them – work in a pack of three at a time assaulting people,” Cr Dal Broi said.

“I am very concerned as mayor of Griffith when ordinary people going about their business are being assaulted.

“If people can’t walk safely not far from our main street we need to look at what’s going on here.”

Cr Dal Broi said he will continue to investigate the potential of increasing closed-circuit television monitoring and will raise his concerns about saftey with police at the next appropriate occasion. 

Griffith Police acting Local Area Commander Paul Smith could not definitively link the two assaults but said they were considering a potential connection. 

“The events of the weekend before last certainly form part of our investigation,” Detective Inspector Smith said.

“Certainly we’ve had information come in to us and the investigation is continuing into incidents across both weekends, however we are still wishing to hear from any members of the public who may have information. 

“Anyone who may have heard or seen anything and hasn’t yet contacted police, we’d like to hear from them.

“Also if anyone has heard talk about the incidents, even if that’s all it is, it may fit into our inquiries so we would like to hear from them.”

Detective Inspector Smith said locals should think about how they intend to get home before they go out drinking. 

“Quite simply look out for each other and be alert and be mindful of the surroundings you are in,” he said.

“Obviously if you’re consuming alcohol, do it responsibly and have a plan to get home.”

The three men are described as being Aboriginal in appearance, with one of the males being of stocky build and wearing a yellow Nike shirt and cap.

The Coleambally man suffered minor injuries during the assault.

Please contact Griffith Police Station on 6969 4299 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 if you have any information relating to this crime.