Police are investigating five attacks on taxi drivers that have occurred overnight leaving one driver in hospital with a broken arm.
The first incident occurred around midnight on Anderson Road, Sunshine near Morris Street, when a car overtook a taxi and pulled up in front of it, causing the taxi driver to come to a stop.
Once the taxi came to a stop, a second vehicle pulled up along side the taxi, blocking it in.
The 32-year-old Sunshine taxi driver has told police that when all vehicles were stopped several men wearing balaclavas got out of the two cars armed with baseball bats.
The men began to damage the taxi by hitting the panels and smashing the windows with the bat.
One of the men demanded that the driver hand over any money he had, including his wallet.
As soon as the driver complied with the demands, the assailants got back into their cars and fled.
Four similar incidents took place shortly after;

• At 12.10am on Somerville Road Brooklyn near Market Rd.

• At 1.00am on Fitzgerald Road, Laverton North near Cherry Lane.

• At 1.15am on Duke Street and Berkshire Road Sunshine.

• At 1.30am on Bradman Street near McIntrye Road in Sunshine North.
In the Somerville Rd incident, the 25-year-old Glenroy taxi driver was boxed in by two vehicles and a number of males smashed the taxi’s windows before stealing the driver’s mobile phone.
In the Fitzgerald Road attack, the 46-year-old Hoppers Crossing driver was taken to hospital with a broken arm after being targeted in similar circumstances. His taxi windows were smashed with a baseball bat before one of the men assaulted him and dragged him from the taxi. He handed over his money and the offenders fled.
In the Duke Street attack, the 28-year-old St Albans taxi driver was stopped at a red light when a suspect vehicle collided into the rear of his taxi. When the driver pulled over he was approached by a man wearing a balaclava and wielding a baseball bat. The taxi driver fled and was pursued by two vehicles who attempted to make the victim stop, however he managed to escape and attended Sunshine Police Station.
In the Bradman Street incident, the 27-year-old Delahey taxi driver was boxed in by two vehicles and a number of males smashed the taxi’s windows. The taxi driver managed to drive from the area to Bradman Street, where he sought assistance from residents. However when he returned to his taxi, he was again attacked by the offenders who stole personal items including a mobile phone. The driver sustained minor head injuries in the attack.
The two vehicles that police are looking for are a red Subaru with the registered number of PB 269 and a ZX Nissan sedan registered XOB 029.
Both these cars are recorded as stolen vehicles.
Police believe that there are four to six men involved all wearing balaclavas at the time of the attacks.
Investigators are still speaking with the victims and attempting to ascertain a description of the offenders.