Man tackles defenceless school boy, passerby scares attacker off
A Melbourne school boy was left shaken and suffering a slight concussion after he was attacked by a man who tried to steal his backpack and wallet.
The boy was walking along a busy road in Epping in broad daylight on Monday when a man rushed across the street and tackled him to the ground.
The attack was captured on nearby CCTV and shows the man drag the boy across the ground in a bid to steal the backpack.
The defenceless boy was left to struggle with the man on top of him before an off-duty nurse passed by.
"I noticed there was a school boy in a school uniform and an older man on top of him trying to, what appeared to be, rob him," the woman said.
"I kept yelling at this person who was attacking the boy, this little boy.
"He was quite aggressive initially, then tried to flee with (the boy's) wallet and belongings."
As the boy tried to rush to the woman's car, the attacker panicked and threw the wallet back before fleeing the scene.
The boy is seen on CCTV getting into the woman's car.
"It was unprovoked," senior constable Travis McCabe said.
"For some unknown reason in broad daylight, peak hour traffic he's decided to target this young boy.
"He had slight concussion and scratches to his knee ... he's still shaken by the incident."
The woman said she did not hesitate to stop when she saw the boy being attacked.
"That's just what I do. I saw someone who needed my help so I stopped," she said.
The woman was able to provide police with information on the man, helping to compile an identikit of the attacker.
Anyone who can recognise the man is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
