A man has been taken to hospital after he was repeatedly hit with what was believed to be an iron bar in a carjacking overnight.
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The man was sitting in his ute in Blair Street, Moama, about 11.50pm on Monday when another vehicle parked behind it.
Two males then got out of the vehicle and approached the 26-year-old victim before threatening him and reaching in through the window to remove the keys from the ignition.
They then hit the victim on the head with an iron bar or something similar, dragged him from the ute and hit him twice more on the leg.
The two offenders then fled, one in the vehicle they arrived in, and the other in the victim’s silver Holden Rodeo.
The victim was left at the scene and found by a passerby before being taken to Echuca Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Deniliquin detectives are now investigating the incident as an aggravated robbery and are liaising with the Campaspe Criminal Investigation Unit as to the possibility of it being linked to a second theft in Echuca-Moama overnight.
The second vehicle was stolen in Echuca about 12.30am on Tuesday when a man was filling up his Ford Falcon sedan at a United Petroleum fuel pump on the Northern Highway.
Campaspe Detective Sergeant Shane Kervin said the man went to pay for the fuel, leaving the car unlocked and the keys in the ignition.
At the same time, a blue Toyota LandCruiser, or something similar, was also being refuelled at the service station.
Detective Sergeant Kervin said when the victim left his car unattended, a passenger from the LandCruiser got out and took off with the victim’s car.
The LandCruiser also left the scene without paying for its fuel and police are investigating a possible sighting 30 minutes later at Goornong on the Midland Highway.
Detective Sergeant Kervin said car thefts weren’t uncommon in the area but this one was under unusual circumstances.
“The victim has only left his vehicle momentarily,” he said.
Police are calling for anyone with information on either of the two crimes to come forward.
The Moama victim’s vehicle was a silver, single-cab, tray-back Holden Rodeo with a Victorian registration number of QBQ 948.
The first offender in Moama is described as a male Caucasian about 180cm tall, medium build, with dark short hair, aged in his late 20s and wearing dark clothing.
The second offender in Moama is described as a male Caucasian about 190cm tall, thin build, bald and wearing dark clothing.
Anyone with information that could help to identify the offenders or their vehicle can contact Deniliquin detectives on 03 5881 9499, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.
Anyone with information about the Echuca theft is asked to call the Echuca Police Station on 5483 1500, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.