DESPICABLE
Hunt for knife robbers who threatened man at bus stop
Police are hunting two robbers who threatened a vulnerable man with a knife at an East Kilbride bus stop.
The 32-year-old victim has been left “absolutely traumatised” by the shocking incident near to Calderwood Square on Friday night. He was taken to Hairmyres Hospital after being punched by the callous robbers.
It is the latest in a trio of robberies across the town involving a knife.
East Kilbride Central North councillor Joe Fagan said the community is utterly “appalled” by what happened.
A vulnerable man who was robbed at knifepoint waiting for a bus has been left “absolutely traumatised”.
Police are now desperately appealing for witnesses in a bid to hunt down the callous individuals involved.
The 32-year-old was standing at a bus stop near East Kilbride’s Calderwood Square at 11pm on Friday when he was approached by two men who threatened him with a knife.
The men then punched the victim and robbed him before making their way towards Maxwellton Road.
Emergency services were called and the victim was taken to Hairmyres Hospital and released after treatment.
The first assailant is described as white, in his mid teens or early twenties, 5ft 6in tall and wearing a white T-shirt and dark-coloured bottoms.
The second robber is described as white, in his mid teens or early twenties, slim, 5ft 8in tall and wearing a dark-coloured tracksuit.
Detective Constable Stuart Burnside from Cambuslang CID said: “These despicable individuals preyed on a vulnerable man who clearly could not stand up for himself and has been left absolutely traumatised by what happened.
“This type of abhorrent behaviour will not be tolerated and extensive enquiries are underway to find these criminals and hold them to account for their cowardly actions.
“I would appeal to anyone who was in the surrounding area late on Friday night, who may have witnessed the incident or may have seen two men matching the above descriptions, to please get in touch.”
Joe Fagan, Labour councillor for East Kilbride Central North, said: “People are absolutely appalled at what has happened. Knife crime of any kind in our community is worrying but the very thought that someone vulnerable could have been targeted deliberately is particularly disturbing.
“If anyone has any information that could help the police find out who is responsible then I would urge them to contact CID.
“In the meantime, I will be speaking to Police Scotland to see what can be done to reassure the public and prevent this kind of crime in future.”
This appalling incident is the latest in a number of shocking crimes to have taken place in the town.
Just last month, a 12-year-old schoolboy was robbed in an East Kilbride underpass.
The terrified youngster was walking home from school along an underpass at St Lawrence Park near to Falkland Drive in West Mains with a friend when he was approached by the balaclavaclad suspect.
The thug then kicked the boy’s 13-year-old pal and threatened the 12-year-old boy to hand over his iPhone.
A terrified Lindsayfield couple were also threatened with a knife after two robbers broke into their Applegate Drive home earlier this month.
And just last week, heartless thieves left a trail of destruction when they broke into Canberra Primary School in Westwood.