KNIFE-related violence has plagued the Worthing area during the first two weeks of May.
Teen robberyA GANG of teenagers threatened a boy with a knife on Monday, May 12, and forced him to hand over his wallet.
The youth was walking near the east side of Teville Gate multi-storey car park, Worthing, at 10.15pm, when he was approached by a gang of five teenagers, who were all aged between 14 and 16.
One of the gang asked the boy for a light and he handed him a box of matches.
But then another one of the gang pulled out a knife and told him to hand over his wallet.
He threw his wallet at them and ran away.
The teenager with the knife was described as white, 14 years old, with spiky hair, and he was wearing a distinctive red hoodie top with the word "bench" written on it, white shorts and white trainers.
The others were all wearing sports clothing and jeans.
Police are appealing for witnesses.
Axed builderA BUILDER was attacked with an axe after he chased a thief who had stolen the sat-nav from his van.
The 41-year-old builder and his work colleagues were working in Woodlea Road, Tarring, at 12.20pm on Friday, May 9, when a thief stole the sat-nav from their van.
They all chased after him, but as they approached a nearby house, a man, believed to be a friend of the thief, came outside with a small axe and cut the builder on the hand with it.
The police were called and the man with the axe was arrested.
Police found the thief hiding in a garden and arrested him too.
Not only did he have the sat-nav on him, but also drugs.
They have both been released on bail.
Knife gangA TEENAGER was attacked by the same gang twice in Goring on Friday, May 9.
The boy and his girlfriend were walking along Goring Road at 11.30pm, when he was pushed to the ground, punched and kicked by a gang who were trying to steal his belongings.
The couple managed to get away and made their way to Goring Railway Station, but the gang members, who were armed with knives, caught up with them.
They stole his mobile phone and then threw it on the track.
The boy and his girlfriend ran to a nearby house for help and the police were called.
Three people were arrested and have been released on bail.
Brothers attackedTWO brothers were attacked after they had finished playing football at Worthing Leisure Centre on Sunday, May 11.
The brothers finished their game at 8.30pm and were walking to the changing rooms, when they were involved in an argument with three drunk men who had been sitting watching the game.
After changing, the brothers were walking through the bar to leave, when one of them was punched by one of the three men and left with a broken jaw and fractured cheekbone.
His brother was also assaulted.
One attacker was described as 17 to 21, 5ft 11, stocky build, with blond/brown hair, and was wearing a blue striped top with Hawaiian shorts. The other one was also 17 to 21, 5ft 11, stocky build, and he was wearing a yellow polo t-shirt and shorts.
Van theftA VAN stolen from Broadwater on Friday, May 9, was chased by police all the way to Surrey.
The silver transit van was stolen by two thieves from King Edward Avenue just before 10pm.
Police traced the van going north along the A24 and chased after it.
Tools were being thrown from it as it drove along.
The car was followed into Surrey, where police used a "stinger" across the road to burst its tyres and force it to stop.
Only one of the thieves was found inside the van as the other one had been dropped off.
The man has been released on bail.
Fake £20A TEENAGER paid for their shopping in a Worthing shop using a fake £20 note.
The boy, aged about 16, went into a shop in Rowlands Road at 8pm on Monday, May 12, and bought various items using the fake money.
Shop staff only realised after he had gone that the note wasn't genuine.
The teenager then came back later the same day to try and use another note, but the staff recognised him.
He was described as white, 5ft 5, thin, with short brown hair, and he was wearing a black, zipped, hoodie top and jeans.
Cash stolenA ROBBER armed with a 12-inch blade stole cash from a convenience store in Maybridge on Thursday, May 8.
A man wearing something over his face and holding the large knife, or possibly a machette, went into The Local in Limbrick Corner, Palatine Road, at 10pm and confronted staff, before stealing money from the till.
Luckily, none of the staff were injured.
The man was described as 6ft tall, of skinny build and he was wearing a hoodie.
Police are appealing for witnesses.
AppealAnyone with information about these, or any other crimes, can contact police on 0845 60 70 999.
If a crime is taking place, and/or lives are in danger, always call 999.
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