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A knife-wielding gang believed to be responsible for up to 15 robberies in an area of ​​Birmingham is being hunted by police who have stepped up action in the area. BirminghamLive reported on a teenage boy who was mugged at Bleak Hill Park in the Stockland Green area of ​​Erdington on Friday March 3, with his mother describing how an ‘untouchable’ gang was terrorizing the area.

The mother, who asked to remain anonymous, explained how a machete-wielding thug approached her son in Streetly Road Park around 5pm after he had gone to KFC in Erdington town center with his friends. The thief demanded that he wipe his iPhone 13 back to factory settings so his location could not be traced, and then fled the scene.

The shocked mother detailed how the robbery had been one of several in the area, with her son also having his phone stolen on New Year’s Day in Witton Lakes, with the “same” knife involved. She said: “I think they are literally pulling the hair out of the police and everybody else. They appear to be untouchable according to the police. I think they are local. They know the area very well and they also know that there are cameras in the park.”

Read more: Boy robbed at knifepoint as ‘untouchable’ gang terrorizes parks

And West Midlands Police have confirmed that there have been 15 robberies in that same Stockland Green neighborhood since the start of 2023, but say they are doing everything they can to catch them. Most have been in or near Witton Lakes, one near Brookvale Park and the other mentioned by the mother at Bleak Hill Park, about a five-minute walk from Witton Lakes Park.

These were at Perry Common Road, Witton Lakes, Blackrock Road, Lakes Road, Hamm Walk and Park Road. Police said that in 10 of those robberies the teenagers were attacked for their mobile phones. But officers have made a concerted effort to catch those responsible, increasing patrols in the area, both uniformed and plain, looking for weapons and involving local volunteers.

Police have also gone to schools to warn students of the dangers, the council has trimmed down plants that could be hiding places and more security cameras have been used. They issued a warning to lone walkers using Witton Lakes in early February. But the gang or gangs are still at large.

The Erdington Police team tweeted last weekend, saying: “*Witton Lakes** High Visibility Patrols by Kingstanding Neighborhood Officers tonight! We continue to have a presence at this access point due to the increasing number of thefts!”

And again on Thursday (March 16) adding: “**High Visibility Patrols** Kingstanding NHT (neighborhood team) officers have been conducting foot patrols around Wyrley Birch Estate and Witton Lakes as part of our continued presence to deter theft at this location and interact with the public.”

Read more: Lone walkers attacked by robbers in the city’s beauty spot

A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “Local police teams covering Kingstanding and Stockland Green have increased their presence and set up plainclothes operations following a spate of robberies in the area. Since January 2023, 15 robberies have been reported to the police and, in 10 of the cases, we have seen teenagers attacked for their mobile phones.

“We are investigating six offenses on Perry Common Road, three on Witton Lakes, one on Blackrock Road, one on Lakes Road, three on Hamm Walk and one on Park Road. Officers from the Kingstanding and Stockland Green areas have been working with partners, local councilors and the local community to work together to address this issue.

“Police operations have been carried out, including undercover operations, as well as weapons sweeps and increased patrols. StreetWatch volunteers are also doing their part and together we continue to maintain our high-visibility presence in the area.”

The statement continued: “Officers have visited schools in the affected areas and provided safety briefings and Witton Lake has seen an increase in police patrols and the council has been trimming bushes to make the area more open and feel safer. .

“We have also installed additional CCTV in and around the area. We truly understand that there are concerns from local residents and we are working hard to bring these criminals to justice.

“We need people to report any suspicious information to us or if you know who is involved in these robberies then do the right thing and call us with information. If you are concerned about leaving your details, you can report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers, the independent charity on 0800 555 111.”

And this week, Plantsbrook School has reported two theft incidents involving a ski-masked thug or thugs in Sutton Coldfield, who said their pupils had been attacked. And that report coincided with a mother who said her son had been robbed at knifepoint near the Ebrook Road entrance to New Hall Valley Country Park this past Friday, March 10, around 5:20 p.m.

In relation to the Ebrook Road robbery, the West Midlands Police spokeswoman added: “We are investigating a robbery that occurred in Ebrook Road, Sutton Coldfield at around 5:30pm on Friday 10th March. A 13-year-old boy was arrested and forced to hand over his mobile phone. Investigations are ongoing.”

While the circumstances appear similar to the Stockland Green robberies, there has been no indication at this stage that the Sutton incidents are linked to those that occurred in Stockland Green.”

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