Knife attack

By Shaun Inguanzo
POLICE have launched a hunt for two men after a Noble Park funeral parlour employee was robbed and lashed across the face with a knife this week.
The assault occurred at 4.30pm on Sunday at Tobin Brothers Funerals on the Princes Highway, Noble Park, and police are searching for two men aged in their 30s.
Tobin Brothers Funerals general manager James MacLeod said the staff member was assaulted at the rear of the building just prior to entering the parlour.
He said the assault was the first in the funeral parlour’s 70-year history.
Mr MacLeod said the two men robbed the employee of cash from his wallet before demanding he open the parlour door.
“They asked him to open the building. However, he refused,” Mr MacLeod said.
“He was holding a single key which he threw into nearby bushes, and one of the males struck him with a knife in the face area, causing two lacerations.
“The (two males) then fled on foot.”
Mr MacLeod said the company was unsure about why the two men wanted to enter the premises, but said it could have been to steal valuable items, such as computers.
The bush in which the employee threw the key was believed to be ivy, Mr MacLeod said, making the key difficult to find.
Mr MacLeod said the employee was treated by ambulance members on site and taken to The Valley private hospital in Dandenong for further treatment.
He said the employee was not yet back to work, and was receiving counselling.
Victoria Police Senior Constable Biljana Luccio said the two men were last seen heading west from the funeral parlour towards Bowmore Road on foot.
The first man is described as Caucasian, in his late 30s, 180 centimetres, medium build, dark hair with a ponytail and wearing a silver ring in one ear.
The second man is described as in his late 30s, dark-skinned, 183 centimetres with dark hair and wearing a blue or grey faded T-shirt.
Sen Const Luccio said detectives investigating the case were appealing for witnesses to the incident to call 000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.