Detectivesare searching for a group of teenagers or young men believed to be linked to four robberies in Basildon.

In all the incidents the victims were assaulted late at night by three or more suspects who took wallets, cash or mobile phones.

The first robbery was at Honeypot Lane at about 1.30am on Sunday August 30. The victim, a local man aged in his 30s, was approached from behind and hit over the head with an unknown weapon. He fell to the ground suffering a cut lip and cut hand, but he managed to run away.

One of the suspects chased and caught him, pushing him against a car. His pockets were searched and he was robbed of a phone and cash. The attackers were all thought to be aged between 18 and 19.

The second incident happened at Pamplins near the junction with Panadown at 3am on the same morning when a man aged in his 30s and from Thurrock was walking to a friend’s home. He was also attacked from behind by a group of men and punched and kicked until he fell to the ground. The attackers took a mobile phone then ordered him to hand over his wallet. One of the suspects was said to be wearing a white hoody and another had grey tracksuit bottoms.

The third incident was at Southernhay at about 3am on Tuesday September 1 when a local man in his 20s was punched in the face and robbed by three men who escaped with a wallet. One of the robbers was wearing a grey hoody and a New York Yankees baseball hat.

The fourth robbery was at Roundacre on Tuesday September 8 when an 18-year-old local man was struck across the back of the head and wrestled to the ground. He was robbed of a rucksack containing a wallet, iPhone 5c and a passport. The three attackers were all white and one was about 5ft 8in tall, and was wearing a hoody, tracksuit bottoms, black Airmax trainers and a dark coloured NY cap.

Investigating officer DC Steve Dawkins said: "Unfortunately we do not have full descriptions as these robbers approached most of the victims from behind and kicked or punched them, luckily not causing serious injuries.

"These robberies are being linked because they all happened late at night, they involved three or more suspects and because they tended to take cash and mobile phones.

"We want to hear from any witnesses to any of these robberies or from anyone who may have seen this group hanging around together or anyone who can identify any of them from the descriptions we have been given.”

Anyone with information should contact DC Dawkins at Basildon CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.