Throat slashed in violent bag snatch

[eagleboy]

A woman's throat has been slashed in a vicious bag snatch in Melbourne.

A man, thought to be about 175cm tall, approached the woman from behind near Brunswick Train Station at 6.15am (AEST) on Monday and put a hand over her mouth, police said.

Detective Senior Constable Kylie Snart said despite the woman immediately handing over her handbag when he asked for it, the attacker slashed the woman's throat with an unknown weapon.

"It is quite a deep gash along her throat," Det Snart said.

"It is obviously a vicious attack, a random attack on a young woman who is just on her way to work," she said.

After the woman was slashed, she went to a nearby home where emergency services were called.

A spokesman for Ambulance Victoria said the woman, aged in her 20s, was treated by paramedics and taken in a stable condition to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Police plan to investigate CCTV footage from a nearby supermarket and the train station to see whether the offender was captured on film.

A manhunt using sniffer dogs began soon after the attack.

It is thought lots of people would have been near the train station when the attack occurred, which was only one block from the Sydney Road shopping strip.

© 2011 AAP

Throat slashed in violent bag snatch

[eagleboy]

UPDATE 12.43pm: RELATIVES of a woman slashed in the neck on her way to work told how she walked home bleeding.
Lovena Yandall, 25, had her throat slashed near Brunswick station early this morning during a vicious early-morning robbery.

The attack happened around 6.15am as the 25-year-old woman passed The Railway Hotel in Albert St.

Father-in-law David Yandall said the 25-year-old managed to walk the four or so blocks home, calling 000 on the way.

"She’s standing with sort of her hand over (her neck) and bleeding everywhere, blood everywhere,’’ Mr Yandall said.

"We just took (her) inside and got a towel and you know, try to stop the bleeding.’’

Detective Senior Constable Kylie Snart said a man approached the woman from behind, grabbed her by the throat and demanded her handbag.

She gave the bag to him before he slashed her throat and ran off towards Sydney Road along the train line.

Ms Yandall was treated by paramedics before being taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a stable condition.

"It's obviously a vicious attack, a random attack on a young woman who was just on her way to work, so it’s quite concerning to the public," Senior Constable Snart said.

Police are still hunting for the attacker, described as 175cm tall and wearing dark clothing.

Senior Constable Snart said there were people around at the time and has appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the attack to come forward.

"If anyone was walking along the railway line or down Sydney Road and saw any suspicious people or cars obviously we would encourage them to contact us," she said.

Police have set up a crime scene.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit: www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Woman's throat slashed in Brunswick armed robbery | Herald Sun

[eagleboy]

UPDATE 6.05pm: POLICE have released an image of a man they want to speak with after woman had her throat slashed in Brunswick.

A man attacked and robbed a 25-year-old woman who was walking to the Brunswick train station on Albert St about 6.15am.

Earlier this evening, police released a CCTV image of a man they wish to speak as part of their investigation.

Detective Sen-Constable Kylie Snart spoke to the media this morning to call on witnesses to come forward.

Sen-Constable Snart said the man grabbed the woman from behind and demanded her handbag.

“She handed her bag over, it then appears she has been slashed to the throat,” she said.

The woman then stumbled to a nearby house and raised the alarm.

She was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for treatment to the deep neck wound.

“It appears to be a vicious random attack on a young woman who was just on her way to work, so it is quite concerning,” Sen-Constable Snart said.

The attacker is described as 175cm, with a thin build and wearing a black jacket and pants.

Police have found he woman’s handbag, and are still appealing for public help.

Sen-Constable Snart said police were looking into the possibility that CCTV footage may have captured images of the attacker.

Anyone with information is urged to contact <aref=“http://www.vic.crimestoppers.com.au/cs/home.jsp”>Crime Stoppers</a> on 1800 333 000.

Woman attacked in Brunswick - Crime - News - Moreland Leader

[eagleboy]

A YOUNG woman whose throat was cut in a brutal mugging has undergone emergency surgery for her horrific injuries.
Lovena Yendall, 25, was slashed after handing over her bag to a masked thug, who attacked her from behind in a Brunswick street as she walked to work.

Surgeons operated on Ms Yendall at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for more than an hour and a half late yesterday.

Her father-in-law, David Yendall, said she had been heavily sedated and it was too early to know if the surgery was a success.

"She was lying down asleep so we just have to wait and see now," he said.

The cowardly attack happened on Albert St, near Ms Yendall's home, about 6.15am yesterday.

The injured woman managed to call 000 and made her way home before paramedics arrived.

Mr Yendall, who returned to the family home to clean it late yesterday, described the scene inside as frightening.

"I'm here to clean up so my son doesn't have to see the mess that's in there," Mr Yendall said.

"She was bleeding a lot. I was the one that opened the door and just the sight of her was horrific."

Police have condemned the attack and released an image of a masked man they hope can help them with their investigation.

Detective Sen-Constable Kylie Snart said the fact the offender slashed Ms Yendall's throat despite her handing over her bag was particularly worrying.

"It is quite a deep gash along her throat," she said.

"It is obviously a vicious attack, a random attack on a young woman who is just on her way to work."

The attack sparked a huge manhunt, with police using sniffer dogs to scour the area.

Officers spent the day searching the streets around the crime scene and recovered Ms Yendall's handbag.

Police believe the man may have been seen by early commuters at nearby Brunswick railway station.

The attacker is 175cm tall and wore dark clothing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or CSA National :: Home.

Woman&#039;s throat slashed in Brunswick armed robbery | Herald Sun