ROBBERS have been striking in parks across the Southend district - targeting young people.

In two incidents at Eastwood Park groups of about 40 teenage boys and girls surrounded their victims and stole bikes and valuables.

In a third incident at Priory Park a schoolboy was chased and forced to hand over his mobile phone after the robber threatened to stab him.

Police patrols have been increased and covert operations are being carried out in the area following the incidents over the weekend.

The two incidents in Eastwood Park both happened at about 9.30pm on Saturday May 19. A 17-year-old local boy was robbed of a £250 bike but escaped unharmed.

The robber was black, aged 16 to 19, about 5ft 6in tall, with a stubbly beard and moustache and with a strong London accent. He was wearing a grey hoody, dark trousers and black woolly hat.

In a second incident nearby, a 17-year-old local youth was assaulted and needed hospital treatment for numerous cuts and bruises when he was robbed a £400 mountain bike, cash, credit cards and a bus pass. A second local boy was also assaulted.

The ringleader of this attack was black, about 5ft 10in, of slim build and he spoke with an African accent. He was wearing dark blue jeans, grey hoody with the hood up and Nike Air Force trainers. He also had rosary beads around his neck.

A second suspect was of mixed race, of stocky build and about 5ft 7in tall. He was wearing a grey hoody with the hood up, blue jeans and Nike Air Force trainers. He had a slight foreign accent.

A third attacker was white, aged 15 or 16, about 5ft 10in, of athletic build and with short dark spiked hair. He was wearing a striped top and dark blue jeans.

The third robbery happened at about 1.30pm on Sunday May 20 at Priory Park, near Victoria Avenue, when an 11-year-old boy was robbed of a mobile phone.

The robber was white, about 5ft 8in tall, aged about 18, skinny, had blue eyes, light brown eyebrows and possibly with blond hair.

He was wearing a dark blue hoody with a red V on the chest area and with the hood pulled up, and black tracksuit bottoms with white stripes on the legs. He rode off on a small red BMX bike.

Anyone with information should contact the Target Offender Team at Southend on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 101.