A brazen would-be thief stabbed his victim with scissors after he refused to hand over his mobile phone.
Greater Dandenong CIU Detective Senior Constable Kim Alp said the victim, 32, was walking with a friend on Lonsdale Street in Dandenong, near Chemist Warehouse, about 4.40pm on Friday 5 May.
He told police that three men of African appearance approached, and one demanded his phone.
The victim said that when he refused, the man used scissors to stab his upper arm.
The would-be thief then lifted his arm to stab the victim a second time when the victim put up his own hand to hold him back.
This caused a further laceration to his hand. All parties then left the scene.
Det Sen Const Alp said the wounds were very minor in nature.
She said the crime was reported to police when the victim attended hospital for treatment.
She urged any witnesses to the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
