Rupinder Rakhe had to buy a new phone after thieves stole his previous mobile, and his wallet, at knifepoint outside Sandown train station on
By Shaun Inguanzo
POLICE are searching for three men who robbed and threatened a cooking and hospitality student with a chef’s knife at Sandown train station last week.
Noble Park’s Rupinder Rakhe arrived in Australia from India last month to study a Diploma of Commercial Cooking and Hospitality at an inner-Melbourne TAFE college.
But three men loitering at Sandown train station at 9pm on Tuesday, 14 November spoilt his newfound excitement when they robbed Mr Rakhre at knifepoint.
The weapon – easily identified by the cooking student – was a chef’s knife pointed directly at his throat.
“I was just shocked,” Mr Rakhre said.
“I didn’t know what to do because I was scared.”
One of the three men demanded Mr Rakhre hand him all his possessions.
“He asked for my mobile phone and I passed it to him and said I have nothing else,” Mr Rakhre said.
“Then he asked for my wallet, and I said I did not have one.”
The man then abused Mr Rakhre and threatened him with the knife.
“I was too scared, so I gave him my wallet,” Mr Rakhre said.
“The wallet had about $70, my bank card, my Indian driving licence and my student ID card.”
A traumatised Mr Rakhre was too scared to call police using a nearby phone booth and instead fled home on foot where he told his cousin about the ordeal.
The next day, while in Melbourne’s CBD for TAFE studies, Mr Rahkre reported the matter to police.
Mr Rakhe said he was frightened to use public transport but had no other means of transport.
He said the safety of Melbourne’s public transport system left much to be desired compared with its international counterparts.
“(The theft) has left a really bad impression on me, to tell you frankly,” Mr Rakhe said.
“Last time I was in Singapore studying a Diploma of Marketing Management I used to go home by train at 10pm or 11pm.
“Nothing bad ever happened at that time and it was very safe.
“Over there you can carry how much cash you want and not get robbed, but here you can’t carry any.”
Detective Senior Constable Deanne Williams said the thieves fled down Lawn Road, Springvale, immediately after stealing Mr Rakhre’s possessions.
She said one of the men was aged about 23, and described as 180cm, with dark skin, of medium build with short, dark hair and was wearing black sunglasses, blue jeans and a white T-shirt.
Anyone with information in asked to contact Det Sen Const Williams on 9784 5528 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
